Shooting at California festival kills 3; suspect is dead

[Gman]

Shooting at California festival kills 3; suspect is dead

TV News is reporting 4 Deaths. This is being referred to as a "mass shooting", which seems to be the new catch phrase of the left. I don't remember these events being called 'mass shootings' in the past. How can this happen in CA, where you can't even buy ammunition without a background check?

GILROY, Calif. (AP) - A gunman cut through a fence to avoid security and opened fire at Northern California's popular Gilroy Garlic Festival, killing three and wounding at least 15 before police fatally shot him as terrified people and performers ran for cover.

Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said the gunman was armed with a rifle and sneaked in through a fence that borders a parking lot next to a creek. He appeared to randomly target people when he opened fire just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, the conclusion of the three-day festival that attracts more than 100,000 people to the city known as the "Garlic Capital of the World."

Police responded within a minute, engaged the suspect and killed him, Smithee said.

Some witnesses reported a second suspect, Smithee said, but it was unclear whether that person was armed or simply provided assistance. A manhunt continued late into the night.

Smithee called the scene at the festival a "nightmare you hope you never have to live."

The wounded were taken to multiple hospitals, and their conditions ranged from fair to critical, with some in surgery Sunday night. At least five were treated and released.

Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting: Reactions pour in from Newsom, Trump, others

A mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on Sunday prompted immediate reaction from politicians including Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called the violence “horrific.”

“This is nothing short of horrific,” he said on Twitter. “Tonight, CA stands with the Gilroy community. My office is monitoring the situation closely. Grateful for the law enforcement’s efforts and their continued work as this situation develops.”

President Trump weighed in briefly shortly after the shooting, focusing on reports that police were pursuing a suspect.

“Law Enforcement is at the scene of shootings in Gilroy, California,” Trump tweeted. “Reports are that shooter has not yet been apprehended. Be careful and safe!”

California Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat who hopes to unseat Trump and has pushed for stronger gun control, said the country needed to do more to stop its “gun violence epidemic.”

“Simply horrific,” Harris said on Twitter. “I’m grateful to the first responders who are on the scene in Gilroy, and my thoughts are with that community tonight. Our country has a gun violence epidemic that we cannot tolerate.”

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, also sought to make a statement about the nation’s gun laws.

“My heart breaks for all of our Bay Area neighbors who attended the #GilroyGarlicFestival,”he tweeted. “We need gun reform and we need it now. #EnoughIsEnough.”

Among others who reacted on Twitter were Apple CEO Tim Cook, who said, “Deeply saddened by the news of the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, a beloved community tradition in Northern California.”

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo tweeted, “Praying for lives and recoveries of each of the shooting victims at #GilroyGarlicFestival.”

Six-year-old boy among those shot and killed at garlic festival

Police also shot and killed a suspect who was carrying an assault-type rifle, according to a statement by the City of Gilroy. Police believe a second person may have been involved. The shooter entered the packed festival by cutting through a fence, police said. The festival had tight security, including metal detectors.

"Gun free zone" strikes again.

The killer (name withheld) has been identified and was 19 years old.

[Irving]

Remember when tragedies were treated as such, and not just as vessels to further some political argument?

[SuperiorDG]

I notice right off the 4 deaths being pushed, gotta push those numbers up. Even FOX is calling it a mass shooting.

[Gman]

Remember when tragedies were treated as such, and not just as vessels to further some political argument?

I do. Clearly.

[KevDen2005]

It's turning into a once a week thing these days.

[TRnCO]

Calling any shooting a mass shooting is kind of along the lines of naming storms. All in the name of politicizing an event.

[Irving]

I do. Clearly.

I was actually talking about you.

[KevDen2005]

Mass shooting is like all the other terms that people use to get an emotional response. It's way overused and it means nearly nothing.

[.455_Hunter]

Gotta love how all those security checkpoints and metal detectors kept people safe. Heaven forbid a citizen is able to carry a defensive weapon into a festival. I will credit LE for a rapid response, but unfortunately, as we all know, the response was already too late for some. Oh yeah, the "if you defensively shoot more than X (3, 7, 15???) yards away, then you are.going to prison..." crowd can pound sand.

[Skip]

Remember when tragedies were treated as such, and not just as vessels to further some political argument?

Socials were dropping F bombs and death wishes on all Republicans, gun owners, "white people," etc... yesterday before the body count was known let alone the gun, the killer, or any other facts.

A lot of hate directed at people who had nothing to do with it. When political groups use events to scapegoat their opposition, it's political.

And all this happened well before the OP's post.