Gilroy Garlic festival shooting: Gunman is identified as teenager, 19, who opened fire on crowds with an assault rifle because he was 'really angry', killing three including a six-year-old boy, before being shot dead as police hunt for his 'accomplice'

• e-mail

Six-year-old Steven Romero, from San Jose, was among three killed when a gunman opened fire on the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Northern California on Sunday evening

The gunman from a shooting at a garlic festival in California on Sunday where three people, including a six-year-old boy, were killed has been identified as 19-year-old Santino William Legan.  

He was named on Monday as police in Gilroy, where the shooting happened, continued to hunt for his accomplice. 

An Instagram account that was registered under his name had been deleted by the time he was named on Monday. 

Officers from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau were seen searching a home in Gilroy overnight but they have not confirmed if it is Legan's.

Legan was shot dead by police after firing his semi-automatic assault rifle into crowds at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, an annual event which attracts 100,000 people to the small town. 

President Trump called him a 'wicked murderer' on Monday during a bill signing ceremony at the White House. 

Among those killed was six-year-old Stephen Romero. Two others died who are yet to be named  publicly. 

Survivors said Legan told them he was 'really angry' when they asked him why he wanted to kill them.  

Authorities believe he gained access to the festival, which was protected with metal detectors, by using bolt cutters to get through a fence. 

They believe he had an accomplice and police are still looking for that person.  

Other survivors have told how he was silent as he marched through the crowds. 

'He didn't say anything, nothing. He did not even look from side to side. He just kept looking forward,' Cheryl Low, who was working at the festival, told ABC.  

Fifteen people, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured.  

The two suspects are believed to have entered the festival via a creek on the north side, where they used a tool to cut through a fence in order to avoid strict security at official entrances. 

Legan then fired his semi-automatic, stopping to reload at one point, and did not flinch as his bullets his children. Some witnesses say he moved 'like a police officer' because he was so efficient. 

'He shot one child and then he put the clip in and he just started moving back and forth walking toward the tents because that's where most of the people were in that area and he started shooting,' Cheryl Low, who was working at the festival, said.   

A gunman who opened fire on the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California Sunday evening was shot dead by police. Witness video appears to show officers surrounding the suspect after they took him town within seconds of when he started shooting  

Police are seen standing over a person believed to be the suspect shot dead in the confrontation

Police searched this home on Monday which is thought to be where some of Legan's relatives live. It is near the festival 

The shooting happened at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival on Sunday at around 6pm local time. The house searched nearby is less than two miles away 

'We were 10 to 15ft away from him. It was... how do I explain. There was like a pop and all of a sudden we just turned and we saw him standing there. 

'He was reloading his gun, he was putting another magazine in and he just opened fire. 

'He just started walking towards our booth. 

'We just ran. It was so fast,' she said.  

Several witnesses reported hearing popping noises and then seeing a white male in his 30s wearing military fatigues 'indiscriminately' spraying the crowd with bullets from a semi-automatic weapon for several minutes. 

Candice Marquez, 51, a honey vendor at the festival, said she was just 10 feet from the shooter when he opened fire, and saw him reload a clip of ammunition.

She told Fox News that he was a white man, aged between 20 and 35, and that he seemed very calm and didn't say anything during his attack.

Candice said he was wearing a green vest and khaki pants, was 'very quiet' and didn't call attention to himself before he started spraying the crowd with bullets. 

She described the shooter's actions as 'very deliberate' but said he didn't seem to be targeting anyone. 

Two of her colleagues were shot in the attack, she added.

Another festival worker told NBC Bay Area: 'He was walking like a police officer. Like he wanted to get stuff done.'  

The shooting is the 246th mass shooting in the US this year. 

'HE HAD HIS WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF HIM'

Alberto Romero, the boy's father, speaking on Sunday

The grieving family of the six-year-old boy shot dead at the Gilroy Garlic festival on Sunday have told how he was a 'happy' child with his 'whole life' ahead of him. 

Stephen Romero attended the festival with his mother and grandmother when he was shot dead. His father, Alberto, told on Sunday of the moment his wife phoned him to tell him what had happened. 

'I couldn’t believe what was happening, that what she was saying was a lie, that maybe I was dreaming,' he told Mercury News.

The boy was taken to the hospital where his father met him. 

He hoped he would recover but doctors quickly revealed how grave the boy's condition was. 

'They said they were working on him and five minutes later they told me he was dead,' his father said.

He said his son was a happy child. 

'He was joyful, always wanted to play, always positive,' he added.  

Advertisement

Multiple videos posted on social media show panicked attendees fleeing the park as gunshots ring out in the background. 

'What's going on?' a woman can be heard asking in a clip. 'Who'd shoot up a garlic festival?'

One video shows two bloodied victims lying on the ground, while another showed victims being treated inside a trailer.  

On Sunday, Stephen's grieving father Alberto shared photographs of him on social media on Sunday night and also gave interviews where he said he had his 'whole life ahead of him'. 

'I want to be with him until I can put him in his resting spot, wherever that is. My son had his whole life to live, he was only six, that's all I can say,' he said. 

Stephen's other grandmother, who was not at the festival, told KRON: 'This is really hard. There are no words to describe [it]. 

'Because he was such a happy kid, you know. I don't think it's fair.'  

One witness told NBC Bay Area he was headed out of the event when he felt a bullet wiz by his head and saw everyone running behind him. 

A woman told the outlet she heard popping noises and then turned around to see a man who appeared to be reloading a semi-automatic weapon. 

Another witness said the shooting took place between food tents and from a child's play area. 

'We were just leaving and we saw a guy with a bandana wrapped around his leg because he got shot,' Evenny Reyes, 13, told the San Jose Mercury News. 

'There was a little kid hurt on the ground. 

'People were throwing tables and cutting fences to get out.' 

A spokeswoman for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center said at least five gunshot victims have been taken to the hospital. Their conditions were unknown. 

A spokeswoman for Stanford Medical Center said two patients were being treated there as well. At the press conference, Gilroy Mayor Roland Velasco said 'the situation is still fluid, active'. 

A victim is seen with bloody wounds on both of his legs in a video posted to Twitter

Police have yet to confirm the number of victims shot or otherwise injured in the mayhem

Heavily-armed officers are pictured at the scene as a suspect is believed to still be at large near Christmas Hill Park

Multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, responded to the scene (pictured)

Armed officers escort people from Christmas Hill Park following the shooting. Police say the scene is still active because one suspect remains at large

Officers have told people not to come to the festival site, describing it as an 'active scene' where there is still a heavy police presence which will continue overnight Sunday

Attendees are escorted out of the festival under armed police guard after the shooting

Police officers arrive on the scene of the investigation following a deadly shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival

An emergency responder stands watch at Gilroy High School following a deadly shooting during the Gilroy Garlic Festival

Police vehicles arrive on the scene of the investigation following a deadly shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival

Cheryl Low and Candice Marquez who run The Honey Ladies, a tent at the festival, said the gunman said nothing and shot indiscriminately into the crowds. They fled and survived

President Donald Trump tweeted about the shooting

'I want to express my extreme shock and sadness over what has happened today. I would ask for the thoughts and prayers of the community. We plan on being out here all night,' Velasco said. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom also tweeted about the horror situation in his state

Police Chief Smithee said: '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.' 

'The hearts of Gilroy PD and entire community go out to the victims of today's shooting at the Garlic Festival. The scene is still active. If you are looking for a loved one, please go to the reunification center at Gavilan College at parking lot B,' the Gilroy Police Department wrote on Twitter.  

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

Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, a headliner at the festival, also tweeted

California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted: '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.' 

Teresa Giudice, who was also an attendee at the festival yesterday, tweeted her support and thoughts to victims

Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, a headliner at the festival, also tweeted: 'I was in Gilroy at the Garlic Festival yesterday. Really great community. Prayers go out to all'. 

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice. who was also an attendee at the festival on Saturday, tweeted: 'I am so sad hearing about the shooting tonight at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, I was there yesterday and just got back to New Jersey. 

'I am praying for everyone there.'

Emergency personnel stand outside Gilroy High School following the deadly shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival 

Armed officers are seen above responding to the scene. A woman told the outlet she heard popping noises and then turned around to see a man who appeared to be reloading a semi-automatic weapon

Gilroy Garlic festival volunteer Denise Buessing, left, embraces fellow volunteer Marsha Struzik at a reunification center

Gavilan College, located 3.2 miles from the park, was set up as a reunification site for festival attendees who were reportedly transported there by bus and in civilian vehicles.  

The public was urged to stay away from the festival area and from Gavilan College if they were not immediately affected by the incident.  

The three-day event is officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the World's Largest Garlic Festival, attracting thousands of visitors each summer. 

The festival is considered a 'gun free zone', and attendees say they were searched thoroughly before entering the park. Money raised during the event is donated to charity. 

This year's 41st annual festival featured a giant outdoor kitchen and 'Pyro Chefs' creating flame shows while cooking garlic calamari and scampi alongside booths serving pasta, pepper steak sandwiches at 'Gourmet Alley', the main food area.  

There were also three stages with live entertainment, a wine garden, a cocktail booth and a children's play area.  

Singer Colbie Caillat and her band Gone West headlined the festival on Saturday.  

Another highlight was a Garli-Que BBQ Challenge and the Great Garlic Cook-Off hosted by Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio.  

Another witness said the shooting took place between food tents and from a child's play area

People look on from near the scene of a mass shooting during the Gilroy Garlic Festival 

The three-day event is officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the World's Largest Garlic Festival, attracting thousands of visitors each summer

One witness told NBC Bay Area he was headed out of the event when he felt a bullet whiz by his head and saw everyone running behind him