Morgan Hill Murder-Suicidal Suspect, Victims Identified: Police

MORGAN HILL, CA — A San Jose man who is suspected to have shot and killed two supervisors before taking his own life at the Ford Store in Morgan Hill Tuesday night was terminated from the parts department a little earlier that day then hung around the Condit Road business, the Morgan Hill Police Department told Patch Wednesday.

He went to his vehicle and returned to his work station then to the office of his direct supervisor before killing two colleagues amid a struggle for the gun with one and prompting other employees and customers to quickly flee the people, police said. The 60-year-old suspect left the building, sat down on the curb and shot himself in the head," Morgan Hill Police Chief David Swing outlined the circumstances during a Wednesday afternoon press conference.

He was identified as Steven Leet, a man described as one with no family "who kept to himself."

The parts and service managers are Xavier Souto and Brian Light, respectively. Souto, who had worked for the dealership for seven years, was known for his "love of family," Swing said. Light, who had logged 30 years in the automobile industry, was described as someone who liked "to help others," Swing added.

A https://www.gofundme.com/f/soutoandlightmemorialpage established for the two San Jose men has raised more than $25,000 by Friday.

The Ford dealership remained closed Wednesday, the following day after police responded to multiple calls of the suspected murder-suicide at 6:03 p.m. at 17045 Condit Road. The road reopened Wednesday after being closed for hours overnight, while police canvassed the scene and collected a line of clues that led to the suspect's Russo Drive home where a dozen firearms were stored and seized. He carried a revolver and semi-automatic gun with him, but the latter was unused in the shooting. He had no criminal history.

"It was super chaotic," police spokesman Bill Norman told Patch Wednesday morning, adding the last time the South Bay experienced a homicide was a year ago. The sergeant was having a hard time recalling any mass murder incident.

The commander in charge of the scene was Sgt. Scott Purpiss, who is a top trainer for such mass casualty incidents.

When police had arrived to calls of an "active shooter," other employees and customers who were inside had escaped when the suspect confronted Souto and shot him. Light tried to wrestle the gun away from the suspect and was consequently fatally shot.

"Nothing short of heroic," Swing characterized Light's actions. "If not for his actions, there could have been additional victims."

"This is tough for them," Norman told Patch of the managers' family members.

The suspect was found dead outside with a gun in his hand, Norman indicated.

Norman said the reason for the suspect's termination that occurred at about 4:15 p.m. is classified as a personnel issue.

The case is still under investigation.