A gunman opened fire at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, killing three, including a 6-year-old boy, and wounding 15 others.
According to media reports, the gunman, identified as Santino William Legan, 19, was killed in a shootout with police minutes after he began firing at random at the crowded festival Sunday evening. Authorities have launched a manhunt for a possible accomplice.
Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said the suspect or suspects apparently cut through a wire fence to gain access to the festival, bypassing heavy security in place at the entrance.
Witnesses said Legan appeared suddenly from behind a stage and opened fire with an assault-type rifle.
"The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association and the entire community of Gilroy are devastated by the shooting yesterday afternoon on the last day of the Gilroy Garlic Festival," Gilroy Garlic Festival Association said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this horrific event. We are offering any and all resources available to support our community and law enforcement. We ask for your prayers and understanding at this incredibly difficult time.
At a press conference Sunday evening, Brian Bowe, executive director of the Gilroy Garlic Festival, said, “Gilroy is an amazing, tightly-knit community. We are family. We have had the wonderful opportunity in this community to celebrate our family through our Garlic Festival, and for over four decades that festival has been our annual family reunion. It's such a sad, just horribly upsetting circumstance that this happened on the third and final day of this year's festival.”
Shawn Keck, president of the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival, spoke in support of the more than 4,000 volunteers who worked to organize and host the annual festival. “We are heartbroken that senseless violence brought this year’s festival to such a terrible and tragic end. We are truly grateful to the Gilroy Police Department, who responded immediately to prevent further loss of life, and to the hundreds of other first responders from regional and federal agencies who have provided additional support. We are also thankful for the thoughts and prayers and outpouring of support from people all over the world.”
The Gilroy Garlic Festival, now in its 41st year, is one of the most popular food festivals in the United States and celebrates the garlic crop for which the city of Gilroy is famous. Gilroy is located about 30 miles southeast of San Jose.
