California food festival shooting: Three dead; forces kill suspected gunman

“It’s just incredibly sad and disheartening that at an event that does so much good the community had to suffer from a tragedy like this,” said Smithee.

Police and ambulances raced to the spot and the injured were rushed to the hospital. Earlier, NBC Bay Area reported that ambulance crews were told 11 people were “down” after the shooting on the last day of the Gilroy Garlic Festival, an annual three-day event south of San Jose.

DEVELOPING: Authorities confirm shooting at California garlic festival. No word on how many have been shot or the conditions of the victims. https://t.co/VE82mWyK58 pic.twitter.com/9I0qGpuY8T

— ABC News (@ABC) July 29, 2019

Dion Bracco, a local city councilman, told The New York Times three people were killed and 12 injured in the shooting. However, he did not know if the 12 injured included the three fatalities, the newspaper said. One suspect was in custody, Bracco said.

“They don’t know if there were more, so they have to treat it as an active situation,” he told NYT. “We have police out here from as far away as San Jose,” he said.

People run as an active shooter was reported at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, south of San Jose, California (REUTERS/Screengrab from social media video)

Another witness said he saw many people on the ground, but could not be sure how many may have been shot and how many were trying to protect themselves.

Evenny Reyes, 13, told the San Jose Mercury News that at first she thought the gunfire was fireworks. But then she saw someone with a wounded leg. “We were just leaving and we saw a guy with a bandana wrapped around his leg because he got shot,” Reyes told the newspaper. “There was a little kid hurt on the ground. People were throwing tables and cutting fences to get out.”

Witness line and family reunification line: 408-846-0583.
If you saw something today please call that number immediately.
Please keep the main GPD line for emergencies only.
Media please do not call that line. A media line will be posted soon.

— Gilroy Police (@GilroyPD) July 29, 2019

The festival grounds were seen apparently deserted but with many emergency and police vehicles on surrounding streets and police in bullet-proof gear, in aerial footage.

US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: “Be careful and safe!”

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

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2019

A video posted on social media showed festival attendees running in fear and confusion as gunshots could be heard in the background.

“What’s going on?” a woman can be heard asking on one video. “Who’d shoot up a garlic festival?”

Another video posted on Twitter showed a blood-spattered woman sitting in the back of a semi-trailer and telling a man she had been shot in the hand.

BREAKING: ATF responding to mass shooting at Food Festival in Gilroy, California – https://t.co/LmTR5aAhiZ

pic.twitter.com/5T5eAS0yDB

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 29, 2019

California Governor Gavin Newsom said his office was monitoring the situation closely. “This is nothing short of horrific,” Newsom wrote on Twitter.

This is nothing short of horrific. 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. https://t.co/GrtHjtCEz7

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 29, 2019

According to a hospital spokesperson, at least one person was confirmed dead and 11 were injured in the incident.

Founded in 1979, the Gilroy Garlic Festival features food, drink, live entertainment and cooking competitions. It is hosted by volunteers and describes itself as the world’s greatest summer food festival.

According to the event’s website, it was being held at the outdoor Christmas Hill Park, where weapons of any kind are prohibited. To provide a safe, family-friendly atmosphere, it said, entry was refused to anyone wearing clothing or paraphernalia indicating membership in a gang, including a motorcycle club.

(With Reuters inputs)