Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting

The Gilroy Garlic Festival in
Gilroy, California.
(Photo by Skyscanner)
For those of you who are unaware, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is a three-day event held every year in Gilroy, California. What started as an idea, became a 40-year old tradition, as the people of Gilroy (and its visitors) pay respects and honor the local garlic industry. In case you are unaware, Gilroy is known for their garlic crops. 

Primarily held during late July/early August, this event celebrates garlic. Gilroy is a small town in North California. And with 4,000 volunteers alone and over a hundred vendors and sponsors, the community is as tight-knit as it gets. So, when something like this happens (which is rare) the entire community shuts down to grieve. 

I am originally from the Bay area of California where the Gilroy Garlic Festival is held, so when I heard the news regarding this, I was not only sad, but in a panic that one of my family members may have been a victim of this. Naturally I feared for the worst. And although none of my family are victims in this devastating yet unpredictable shooting, I cannot help but be extremely empathetic to those who are victims to such a tragic occurrence. 

Santino William Legan is the original shooting suspect; however, a few eyewitnesses claim they saw a second person with him. And as the speculation continues, some of the people who attended this festival believe this person ran off. Legan who is of Italian and Iranian descent, abused his liberties in more ways than one when he used an AK-47 (a Russian assault riffle) to randomly shoot people at the festival yesterday, killing three people.

Additionally, the angry yet scorned shooter managed to take out 12 other people, some who are currently fighting for their life at the local hospital. 6-year old Stephen Romero died immediately, along with 13-year old Keyla Salazar, and 25-year old Trevor Irby.

Today is a day to mourn. Although Legan was immediately shot and killed by the fine policeman of Gilroy, there is no price on a life. Justice may have been served, but the people of this small town in Santa Clara County will remember 7/28/19 forever. 

If you are from Gilroy or know someone has visited and has not been in touch with you, please call (408) 846-0583 immediately. You can also call (408) 846-0584. 

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