At Least Four People Killed in Shootings at Festivals in California and New York

At Least Four People Killed in Shootings at Festivals in California and New York

The Gilroy, California police chief credited his department’s robust security operation with stopping the shooter in his tracks.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Jul 30, 2019

This past weekend featured a far-too common sight in American life: two deadly mass shootings, this time at family-friendly festivals held in California and New York.

In northern California, attendees were enjoying the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival on Sunday when a man wearing tactical gear began shooting indiscriminately at festival-goers. At least three people were killed, including two young children, and 12 others were left wounded. The main suspect was shot and killed by police at the scene.

“It's sort of a nightmare you hope you never have to live in reality," Gilroy police chief Scot Smithee said at a news conference, according to NBC News.

Police officers were present for the duration of the three-day event, allowing the officers to quickly engage the suspect within a minute of shots being fired.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the officers for being able to engage this guy as quickly as they did,” Smithee said. “It could have gone so much worse so fast.”

Law enforcement officials in Gilroy believe a second person could have been involved in the shooting, CNN reported. Smithee said they believe that the suspects cut through a fence by a nearby creek to gain access to the fairgrounds. There were no posted security cameras at the event, he added.

Festivalgoers in New York City faced a similarly terrifying situation on Saturday night, when one person was shot and killed at a Brooklyn park as the 56th annual Old Timers Day event was wrapping up its festivities.

At least two gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered near a playground, wounding 11 people and killing one 38-year-old man, The New York Times reported. Police were investigating whether the shooting was related to a gang dispute, particularly because the victim was believed to be a Bloods gang member.

More than 100 police officers were on duty at the event when the shots were fired into a crowd of about 2,000 in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, according to the Times. Police were not sure if the wounded people were targets of the shooting or just caught in the crossfire.

At a news conference on Sunday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would increase funding to gun violence prevention programs within the city.

“I want to make really clear, this tragedy does not define Brownsville, does not define the people of Brownsville, does not define what’s happening on the ground in a community that has worked so hard and come so far,” de Blasio said.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.