Crime & Safety
3 Heroic Gilroy Officers Who Took Down Suspect Identified
The officers with 53 years of experience between them are credited with preventing more carnage in the melee that resulted in 4 dead.
GILROY, CA — The three Gilroy police officers who most likely prevented more carnage at the Gilroy Garlic Festival mass shooting Sunday when they shot and killed the 19-year-old local gunman have been identified.
Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee characterized the trio as humble "heroes" with 53 years of law enforcement experience between them. The officers are Eric Cryar, a 23-year-veteran; Hugo Del Moral; a 17-year-veteran; and Robert Basuino, a 13-year veteran.
“They’re not particularly excited about being in the limelight, but they deserve recognition for what they did,” Smithee said during Thursday afternoon's press conference.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The chief has mentioned how brave these officers were to take down a man armed with an AK-47 assault rifle with handguns. The difference in firepower could explain why witnesses report hearing two varying types of firearms.
He hasn't ruled out a second suspect but chances of that have diminished with each day.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Federal Bureau of Investigations Special Agent In Charge John Bennett emphasized how law enforcement is continuing to comb through the evidence. The federal agency is still requesting photos and information from individuals who may have pertinent materials to share. They're accepting submissions.
The FBI is working on the complex science of profiling to try to establish motive.
"There's no rock too small to uncover," Bennett said, adding a few social media posts declaring extremist views does not harbor a conclusion to his own ideology.
The gunman appeared to have pre-planned the attack based on law enforcement tracking his whereabouts leading up to the shooting.
The FBI and the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association started the process of returning personal belongings to people and vendors who left the fairgrounds in a flurry.
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