At least 3 dead in California garlic festival shooting

By Jessie Yeung, Veronica Rocha, Joshua Berlinger and Eliza Mackintosh, CNN

Updated 4:04 p.m. ET, July 29, 2019
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4:25 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

A 6-year-old was killed at the Gilroy shooting

Stephen Romero, 6, was killed during the shooting in Gilroy, California, said Gilroy City Councilmember Fred Tovar.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who (lost) their lives, and those recovering in the hospital. I am deeply saddened by the news of Stephen Romero. I pray that God will grant his family strength. My most sincere condolences. I will keep your family close in my thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks as you are going through your process of grieving," Tovar said in a statement on Sunday night.

Stephen's grandmother, Maribel Romero, told CNN affiliate KGO-TV that Stephen had already been declared dead by the time she reached the hospital.

"I just hope there is justice and they catch the last person or the other person and that there's justice. I want justice for my grandson," Romero told KGO-TV.

Police are still investigating whether there was a second individual involved with the shooting, which left three people dead and 11 more injured.

Romero said her daughter-in-law and Stephen's other grandmother were also shot and hospitalized.

4:08 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

City of Gilroy releases statement

The City of Gilroy has released a statement on the shooting that took place at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on Sunday.

It reiterated the numbers that had been previously announced: at least three people have died, 11 are injured, and the shooter has also been shot and killed by police.

"Witnesses indicated there may have been a second suspect and a search is underway for that person," the statement said.

The situation is still unfolding, with Gilroy police and regional law enforcement agencies investigating on the scene. The public is advised the avoid the area.

The city statement also firmly denied "unfounded" rumors that there was a second incident at Christopher High School.

3:46 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

California sports teams speak out on the shooting

Major California sports teams are extending their condolences on the shooting that left at least three dead and 11 injured in Gilroy, California on Sunday.

The baseball teams San Jose Giants and San Francisco Giants both tweeted that their thoughts and prayers went to those affected by the "devastating" incident. "Our hearts are heavy tonight hearing about the devastating tragedy in Gilroy," posted the San Jose Giants.

The San Francisco 49ers, a football team, wrote: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the horrific tragedy unfolding in neighboring Gilroy. Our thoughts and prayers are with today's victims, their families and first responders on the scene."

Ice hockey team San Jose Sharks said: "We are devastated to learn of the horrific events in Gilroy today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone else affected by this tragedy."

3:24 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

Here's your 12:30 a.m. catch up

The night is winding down as it reaches 12:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET). If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know about today's shooting in Gilroy, California.

  • Where it happened: The shooting occurred at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, about 30 miles from San Jose. It's a beloved annual event in a community known for its garlic production. Organizers said nearly 100,000 people attend the festival each year.
  • How the shooter got in: Police say the suspect entered the park by cutting open a fence around the property.
  • Chaos and panic: Footage showed people screaming and running for cover as gunshots rung in the air. Some people hid under the stage where a band had been performing; others hid in the white tents on site.
  • The victims: At least three people are dead and 11 more have been injured, officials say. The injured people are being treated at St. Louise Regional Hospital and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
  • The suspect: The suspected shooter was shot and killed by police -- but authorities say the crime scene is still active and they are investigating the possibility of a second suspect. A motive has not yet been determined.
  • What's next: Police say the ongoing investigation will continue throughout the night, and there will be another press conference in the morning. Meanwhile, they are urging the public to phone in tips or relevant information at (408) 846 0583.
5:00 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

Festival attendee who fled the scene: "It all happened so fast"

From CNN's Gianluca Mezzofiore

Robert Villareal thought the gunshots were fireworks at first when he heard them at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on Sunday.

“Then I heard a second and I turned around where the noise came from. As I saw three girls crying and yelling, ‘There’s a shooting,’ as more shots were going off, my family yelled my name out and I got to catch up with them. It all happened so fast," Villareal told CNN.

Villareal didn't see the suspect -- all he saw was a panicked crowd running toward him, screaming that there was a shooter.

“I saw a woman limping, trying to make it to the trail. Then a guy was missing a sandal. I heard a guy saying he forgot his phone but he didn’t want to go back," Villareal said.

Watch the video Villareal shot as he was fleeing the scene:

2:20 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

FBI agents are processing the scene at Gilroy

From CNN’s Josh Campbell 

The FBI Evidence Response Team from San Francisco has arrived and is processing the scene at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, where a shooting left 4 dead, including the shooter, according to a law enforcement official.

Police units and emergency personnel have also come from San Francisco and San Jose. Police warn that the scene is still active and that they are investigating the possibility of a second suspect.

At least 11 people have been injured and hospitalized.

5:01 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

Festival worker "saw some people shot," tried to help the injured

From CNN's Gianluca Mezzofiore

Cynthia Saldivar was working at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on Sunday when the shooting began.

“All of a sudden, around I think it was 5:30, co-workers and myself heard what sounded like fireworks. And we looked toward the area that it was coming from and everyone stood still for a second, and realized it was gun shots. Everyone started running out towards us, up the hill to the street to be safe. Then I saw some people shot, some doing CPR on others," Saldivar told CNN.

She and her coworkers tried to help those who were injured, and drove people to safety.

"There were 3 people that I’ve seen badly injured and we tried to get them up the hill on Miller Street, I believe it’s called, where there were people to fully help them," she said.

Watch Saldivar's video of the aftermath:

1:34 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

The garlic festival was supposed to be a "family reunion" for the community, organizer says

Brian Bowe, the executive director of the Gilroy Garlic Festival, said the Gilroy community was "family."

"We have the wonderful opportunity in the community to celebrate our family through our garlic festival, and for over four decades that festival has been our annual family reunion. And it is such a sad, just horribly upsetting circumstance that this happened on the third and final day of the festival," Bowe said at a news conference.

"To have seen this event end this way this day is just one of the most tragic and sad things I have ever had to see," he added.

Watch his statement here:

1:28 a.m. ET, July 29, 2019

Police say the suspect used a rifle, no motive has been identified

Police believe the suspect in the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting who was engaged by police entered the park by cutting open a fence around the property, said Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee at an ongoing press conference.

No motive has been identified yet. The suspect had “some kind of rifle” and appeared to shoot at random, Smithee said.

There is a possible second suspect who may be involved, but police are still investigating this lead.