FBI finds target list, opens domestic terrorism investigation into Gilroy shooting

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The Gilroy Police Department and the FBI San Francisco field office held a joint press event to provide new details and an investigative update on the Gilroy Garlic Festival incident.

Law enforcement officials said the FBI is opening a full domestic terrorism investigation into the attack at the festival.

Special Agent John Bennett said the suspect had an interest in various competing ideologies and was exploring violent ideologies. They are still working to find out which ideology he settled on, who he may have been in contact with, who may have helped or had knowledge and why he carried out this specific act of violence.

The FBI and police also uncovered a list of organizations that may be potential targets. Those include religious organizations, federal organizations, courthouses, Republican and Democratic political organizations and the Gilroy Garlic Festival. The FBI is notifying the groups, but is not releasing or confirming specific organizations.

Bennett said they did not initially open a domestic terrorism investigation because an act of violence alone does not give legal authority. He said it requires the existence of a potential federal violation, unlawful use of force or violence or threat of it and existence of ideological motivation.

Investigators are still working to determine the shooter’s motive, and there is an open investigation to make sure there is no ongoing threat. He did not leave a manifesto, and the FBI has not ruled out the possibility of ties with white nationalism.

Gilroy police Chief Scot Smithee said that during the shooting, the suspect fired 39 rounds, and the three officers who engaged him fired 18 rounds.

Smithee said the suspect was shot multiple times by police, but he does not have a definitive answer from the coroner about where or how many times.

Police said the suspect was wearing a bullet-resistant vest during the shooting. With him, he had a 75 round drum magazine that had 71 rounds left when it was recovered, two 40 round magazines on his body, two 40 round magazines on the ground and one loose 40 round magazine on or near him.

The shotgun in the suspect’s vehicle was a Remington 870. Police said the bag found in a nearby creek contained two loose rounds for the rifle, a rifle scope, a flashlight, a shovel, two more 40 round magazines for the rifle and two buckshot rounds for the shotgun.

Smithee also said none of the victims killed were hit by friendly fire.

The family assistance center run by the district attorney’s office will have services for victims available at the Wheeler Community Center and the Gilroy Library. Locations are open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.