Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting Being Investigated as Domestic Terrorism

The Federal Bureau of Investigation says a "target list" that contained sites like religious institutions, courthouses and other sites compiled by the gunman responsible for the mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival last week has prompted the agency to open a domestic terrorism case.

Last week, 19-year-old Santino William Legan opened fire with a Romanian-made AK-47-style rifle at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California, killing three people, including two children and wounding thirteen others, before ultimately turning the weapon on himself. Authorities said that while they have not determined a motive for last Sunday's shooting, Legan appeared to be interested in collecting conflicting ideologies, with no specific motive for the shooting.

The FBI is investigating the shooter's digital footprint, looking for anyone he may have been in contact with, as well as determine whether anyone helped him commit the violence.

Agents refused to name the exact locations found on Legan's list, but said it included federal buildings and political organizations on both sides of the aisle in addition to the garlic festival. FBI agents are in the process now of notifying the groups on the list.

Officials also said during Tuesday's press conference that the shooter fired 39 rounds and had many more bullets remaining in another clip.

Santino William Legan's family released the following statement about the shooting:

"Our family is deeply shocked and horrified by the actions of our son. To the families of Stephen Romero, Keyla Salazar, Trevor Irby, and to the injured that survived this tragedy, we cannot begin to describe our despair at his actions. We want to express our deepest and sincerest apologies for the loss and pain that he has caused.
"We have never and would never condone the hateful thoughts and ideologies that led to this event, and it is impossible to reconcile this with the son we thought we knew. Our son is gone, and we will forever have unanswered questions as to how or why any of this has happened.
"We are heartbroken that he committed this violence in his hometown, at a family event meant to celebrate the tight knit community we have been a part of for twenty years.
"Every single member of our family has cooperated with the investigation and will continue to cooperate.We also want to thank all of our friends in the community, and people we have never met, who have sent us messages of support and compassion for what has occurred. Thanks to all of you.To the City of Gilroy and to everyone affected, we are tremendously sorry. No words can begin to express this."

Photo: Getty Images


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