Nine people killed, including suspect, in San Jose shooting
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KION and CBS SF)
UPDATE 5/27/2021 12:37 a.m. Ten people are now dead following the VTA rail yard shooting in San Jose Wednesday morning. Authorities say the the ninth victim, 49-year-old Alex Ward Fritch, who was in critical condition has died at a Bay Area hospital late Wednesday night.
UPDATE 5/26/2021 8:00 p.m. On Wednesday night the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office released the names of the victims killed at the Valley Transportation Authority light rail yard. One victim remains in critical condition at a Bay Area hospital.
- Lars Lane, 63
- Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63
- Timothy Romo, 49
- Paul Megia, 42
- Michael Rudometkin, 40
- Taptejdeep Singh, 36
- Jose Hernandez, 35
- Adrian Balleza, 29
UPDATE 5/26/2021 3:50 p.m. The suspect in a shooting at the Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose has been identified by law enforcement sources to multiple outlets as 57-year-old Sam Cassidy, and the CBS affiliate in the Bay Area is learning more about who he is.
Eight victims were killed when a shooter opened fire at the VTA facility located at 101 W. Younger Ave., and investigators believe the suspect took his own life as he became aware of law enforcement arriving.
KPIX reports that Cassidy worked there as a substation engineer, and a report from Transparent California shows that as of 2019, he earned $114,426 in total pay and an additional $46,082 in benefits.
He is listed as the owner of a home on Angmar Court, and that is the location where a house fire was reported at the time of the shooting. KPIX reports that law enforcement found explosives and gasoline at the site and evacuated nearby homes.
A neighbor described Cassidy as "mean" and not talkative to KPIX.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo told the news outlet that Cassidy was seen working at the light rail yard before the shooting. So far there is no word on motive.
Investigators have not officially named Cassidy as the suspect.
The victims still have not been identified. They will not be publicly identified until the next of kin is notified.
UPDATE 5/26/2021 2:15 p.m. Investigators held a press conference Wednesday afternoon to provide an update on a shooting in San Jose that resulted in the deaths of eight victims.
A spokesperson for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said they received a call about the shooting at the Valley Transportation Authority at around 6:30 a.m., and deputies immediately responded. So far, eight victims have died, but other people were injured and one of them is in critical condition.
The Sheriff's Office said deputies did not exchange gunfire with the suspect, identified by the Associated Press as 57-year-old Sam Cassidy, so they believe he took his own life when he knew that law enforcement had arrived. The shooting was active when law enforcement arrived at the scene, according to investigators
The San Jose Fire Department said the shooting is one of three significant incidents they responded to around 6:30 Wednesday morning. The other incidents were 2-alarm fires on Smith Avenue and Agmar Court. The Associated Press reports that Cassidy owned a home in the area around Agmar Court. KION's Jocelyn Ortega was at the scene on Agmar Court. Investigators did not confirm whether the incidents were connected.
Sheriff Laurie Smith said she believes the quick response and heroism shown by the deputies and other members of law enforcement prevented further loss of life.
A vigil for the victims is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday in front of San Jose City Hall.
UPDATE 5/26/2021 12:20 p.m. A gunman opened fire at the Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose Wednesday morning, and a law enforcement source tells The Associated Press that the suspected shooter is identified as 57-year-old Sam Cassidy.
Investigators say the suspect is a VTA employee. Nine people have died as a result of the shooting, including the suspect. They did not confirm his cause of death, but reporter Len Ramirez with KPIX in the Bay Area said a source told him that the suspect took his own life.
Officials are also investigating a house fire on Angmar Court, and public records show that Cassidy owned a home in that area.
UPDATE 5/26/2021 11 a.m. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office reports that a total of nine people were killed in a shooting at the Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose Wednesday morning. One of the people killed is the suspected shooter.
The Sheriff's Office said its communications center received a report of shots fired at about 6:34 a.m., and there were multiple people injured and killed when they arrived.
The identity of the suspected shooter has not been released, but investigators confirm that he was a VTA employee. They did not confirm his cause of death, but reporter Len Ramirez with KPIX in the Bay Area said a source told him that the suspect took his own life.
A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office said there are explosive devices inside the VTA building, and a bomb squad is at the scene. They are working to clear the building and make it safe.
Light rail service will be stopping at noon on Wednesday.
A fire was also reported at a home on Angmar Court, and investigators are working to determine whether it is related to the shooting.
UPDATE 5/26/2021 10 a.m. Investigators say multiple people have been injured and multiple people have died following a shooting at the Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose Wednesday morning.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said it could not confirm how many people were injured or killed. The male suspect has died, but details about his cause of death have not been released.
A reporter with the CBS affiliate in the Bay Area, Len Ramirez, reports that he heard from sources that 6 to 7 people were killed and the shooter took his own life. Investigators have not confirmed that information.
"A horrible tragedy has happened today," said VTA President Glenn Hendricks. "Our thoughts and love go out to the VTA Family and what they have gone through."
Investigators they first got a report of shots fired near 101 West Younger, and fire departments responded as a "rescue taskforce" to get victims out as soon as possible.
"This is a horrific day for our city and a tragic day for the VTA family. Our heart pains for the family and coworkers because we know so many are feeling deeply this loss of their loved ones and their friends. Now is a moment for us to collect ourselves and understand what happened. To mourn and to help others to heal," said Mayor Sam Liccardo.
The FBI is helping with the investigation, and KPIX reports that the agency is also looking into a house fire that happened Wednesday morning on Angmar Court. It is not known if it is connected to the shooting.
KION has a crew at the scene and will continue to update this story as more information is released.
PREVIOUS STORY: Several people are injured after a shooting early Wednesday morning in San Jose. Authorities say the shooter has been taken down.
It happened just after 7:00am in the VTA rail year located on West Younger Ave.
The department tweeted at 7:10 a.m. that deputies had been sent to the yard at 100 West Younger which is located near the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport and the 87/880 overpass.
Mayor Sam Liccardo confirmed on social media that there were multiple victims.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department tweeted that “the shooter is down.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
