Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting: 3 Victims, Suspect Identified

GILROY, CA — Police officers are still searching for a motive and a possible second suspect Monday as they investigate multiple crime scenes following a mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival that left four dead, including the suspected gunman, and injured several people.

They did find the suspect's vehicle located northeast of the festival off of Laurel Drive and evidence at his home in the 300 block of Churchill Place. He was identified as 19-year-old Santino William Legan of Gilroy, who was fatally shot by police.

One of Legan's neighbors, Rosa Martinez-Ryan, said the street is typically "like going to the cemetery, nothing ever happens here." Another neighbor said Legan's family was friendly, and likely hadn't lived in the neighborhood for a long time.

The deadly shooting that started at 5:41 p.m. Sunday at Christmas Hill Park where the world’s largest garlic festival takes place also injured at least 16 people. The three killed include a 6-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and a man in his 20s.

The youngest was identified as Stephen Romero, while the teenager has been identified as Keyla Salazar, both of San Jose, according to the Santa Clara County Coroner. The man in his 20s has not been identified yet by the Medical Examiner's Office, but ABC News has reported he's Trevor Irby, who was a biology major and graduated in 2017 from Keuka College in New York.

"It is with profound sadness that I share the devastating news that a member of the Keuka College family was among the victims of the mass shooting over the weekend in California," college President Amy Storey reported through ABC News.

Many questions remain beyond the why, and that's why the Federal Bureau of Investigations is requesting information and photos be sent to a public website www.fbi.gov/gilroy, Deputy Special Agent In Charge Craig Fair said in a Monday afternoon press briefing.

Fair characterized the crime as a "heinous act," with the principle subject of the suspect's motivation being "ideology."

Officials are slowly releasing details about the heartbreaking incident as they work to identify what led up to the tragedy that prompted chaos, sadness and outrage.

"It's surreal, you would never think anything like this would happen in our little town," said Firl Armendariz, a Gilroy native. Armendariz's 21-year-old cousin suffered a gunshot wound not considered life-threatening.

According to Genesis Canizal, she was attending the festival with her family on Sunday when she heard loud noises.

"We thought we heard fireworks," she said. "Then everybody started running toward us."
Canizal and her family were able to escape the area uninjured.

Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said in a Monday morning press conference the SKS/AK-47-type weapon was purchased legally in Nevada on July 9, prompting the question of pre-meditation.

Smithee commended his officers for how they handled the horrific incident and said he was convinced more lives would have been lost if they had not acted so quickly.

"My son had his whole life to live and he was only 6," Alberto Romero said of his son, Stephen. "That's all I can say."

Romero told NBC News Bay Area that Stephen's mother and grandmother were also injured in the attack and were in the hospital.

San Jose City Councilwoman Maya Esparza said in a Facebook post Monday that the 6-year-old victim was her cousin.

"Heartache and prayers for my cousins who were wounded yesterday and losing my little cousin, only 6 years old," she wrote. "And I'm angry, so angry. This violence has to stop. How do some people have such little regard for life."

A GoFundMe page started by the South County Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram car dealership on behalf of Romero's family had raised nearly $14,000 as of midday Monday. The fundraising page can be found at GoFundMe.

A Santa Clara Valley Health System spokesman said five remain hospitalized Monday afternoon at its Santa Clara Valley hospital in San Jose. Six victims went taken to the county health system's other facility in Gilroy, St. Louise Regional Medical Center, but all has been discharged. The victims’ conditions range from fair to critical. Their ages range from 12 to 69. Another eight patients came with non-gunshot injuries but were not admitted.

Stanford Medical Center had confirmed treating two who were injured.

Gilroy Fire Chief Jeff Clet said in the press conference that four engines and six ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

Meanwhile, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies are combing the area anchored at the Vineyard Stage on the north side of the festival grounds. Sheriff’s spokesman Michael Low told Patch the incident — now into a second day — is “a very active” incident as “numerous law enforcement agencies are looking” for a possible second suspect.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my career,” said Lowe, who’s been with the force since 2011. He dashed to Gilroy Sunday night from his home in Fremont.

Smithee said that the man now identified as Legan was killed within one minute of the incident. There was a heavy police presence at the festival as in previous years.

Smithee added that police believe a second man may have been involved in the incident. He said it's not clear if that person also fired a weapon or was there to help the gunman.

Twenty law enforcement agencies are assisting with the investigation and search efforts.

Search warrants were issued with materials taken out of a home located about 15 minutes away from the suspect's vehicle.

CNN reported that Instagram posts bearing the name of the gunman mentioned a white supremacist book, showing a picture of people walking around the event shortly before the shooting began.

CBS News reported in a Tweet the teenage suspect comes from a well-known family that includes his father, a world-class runner, and his late grandfather, an elected county official who was accused and acquitted of sexual abuse. Both are named Tom Legan, with different spellings. The family has been embroiled in the news in the past.

Gilroy Mayor Roland Velasco issued an emergency proclamation early Monday morning in the aftermath of a mass shooting. Velasco shared the proclamation on his Facebook page, noting that it would allow the city to request personnel and equipment and help the city get reimbursed by the state for expenses related to the response and investigation.

"This is critically important since we have police, fire and FBI personnel that will remain on-scene for the next few days processing the crime scene," Velasco said in a Facebook post.

Smithee told media that people who went to the festival through the official entrances had passed through scanners and were subjected to bag searches. Regardless, the police chief indicated the suspected gunman cut through a fence to get into the festival grounds.

Gilroy police tweeted Sunday evening that the "hearts" of the police department and the entire community go out to the victims at the shooting. The scene is still active, police said, and anyone looking for loved ones was asked to go to the reunification center at Gavilan College in parking lot B. The tweet was accompanied by the hashtag "#GilroyActiveshooter."

Hours went by Sunday night before Gilroy police engaged reporters. A dispatcher would only tell Patch on Sunday they were "extremely busy."

Along with the FBI and Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was assisting the Gilroy Police Department in the investigation.

Video posted on social media showed people running away from the festival as at least one gunshot rings out. In a second video, a half-dozen shots can be heard as people scream and run.

"Who would shoot up a garlic festival?" one person is heard saying in one of the videos.

A witness told KTVU-TV the gunman, dressed in fatigues, appeared to be "randomly shooting," and that he heard 30 to 40 shots.

The three-day festival has been running since 1979, featuring garlicky food, live entertainment, cooking demonstrations and family fun. It was to run until 6 p.m. Sunday.

The event drew about 80,000 people last year, and the Guinness Book of World Records considers it the world's largest garlic festival. Some of the $11.7 million in funds raised during the annual event are donated to local schools, churches and community groups, with the help of 4,000 volunteers.

Grammy award-winning singer Colbie Callait, who performed with her band at the festival Saturday for its inaugural Saturday night concert year, said she was heartbroken by the violence.

The audience packed the amphitheater when she took the stage to belt out her huge hits like "Bubbly."

"Last night I was performing there with @gonewestmusic wearing garlic hats on our heads and it was peaceful, filled with a beauty & lovely audience," she wrote.

"It's unbelievable that such a thing could occur less than 24 hours later, let alone that these shootings are now a regular occurrence. My heart is with you."

Organizers of the festival issued a statement Monday declaring they “are devastated by the shooting” and extended their heartfelt thoughts to those affected “by this horrific event.”

Festival Executive Director Brian Bowe called the South Bay city a tight-knit community.

“It’s such a sad, just horribly upsetting circumstance that this happened on the third and final day of this year’s festival,” Bowe said.

His sentiment was echoed by Visit Gilroy Executive Director Jane Howard from her California Welcome Center office.

"Our Visit Gilroy team is absolutely heartbroken by this tragedy. The Gilroy Garlic Festival is a truly special event that has brought our community together in a unique and wonderful way for 41 years. Though we are shattered by the loss of life and mourn for the victims and their families, we will get through this together," Howard said.

Santa Clara County is offering counseling services through behavioral health clinicians, who are available at Live Oaks School located at 1505 East Main Avenue in Morgan Hill as well as Christopher School located at 850 Day Road in Gilroy. People can also call the Behavioral Health Services call center and get connected to services at 800-704-0900, select option 2. They can also call the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 855-278-4204 or text RENEW to 741741.

The county District Attorney's Office announced onsite counseling relative to the Gilroy mass shooting starting at 5 p.m. Monday at Rucker Elementary School located at 325 Santa Clara Ave. in
Gilroy.

The hours are from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Friday. More information may be obtained by calling The Family Assistance Center at 408-209-8356.

Federal officials joined in the fray of the disheartened because of the tragedy.

"The Gilroy Garlic Festival is a unique and culturally significant Bay Area family tradition. Many of my constituents attend the festival every year and I’m deeply shaken that the victims of yesterday’s shooting include two children, a 6-year old and a 13-year old," U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, said. "As we continue to learn more details, my office is working to ensure support is available for members of our community that are in need. ...While we process our deep loss and sorrow, we must remember that we have the agency to prevent future tragedies. This is yet another reminder of the urgent need for gun control."

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted that her office was closely following the situation and described the shooting as "simply horrific."

"Grateful to first responders who are on the scene in Gilroy and keeping those injured by such senseless violence in my thoughts," she wrote. Harris added the nation has a gun violence epidemic.

Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted the mass shooting was "nothing short of horrific."

Newsom, who upon visiting the victims in the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, told USA Today they are the "true heroes" the national newspaper said on its Facebook page.

"Tonight, CA stands with the Gilroy community," he wrote. "My office is monitoring the situation closely. Grateful for the law enforcement's efforts and their continued work as this situation develops."

President Donald Trump tweeted that law enforcement agencies were at the scene of shooting in Gilroy, writing: "Be careful and safe.”

Police are asking any witnesses to the shooting, and anyone who may have video or photos that may provide information, to call a tip line at 408-846-0583. A family reunification line has also been set up at 408-846-0584.

Bay City News as well as Patch Editors Colin Miner, Daniel Hampton and Autumn Johnson contributed to this report.

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