Community remembers victims of Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting one year later

GILROY, Calif. (KION) Gilroy locals say their hearts are with the victims Tuesday, which marks one year since a gunman opened fire at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, killing three and injuring several others.

“It's a somber day–a day of reflection and, really, a day to pray for Steven, Keyla and Trevor’s families and the loss that they’ve all suffered and for the many victims of this tragedy,” Gilroy Garlic Festival Association President Tom Cline said.

The day brings back painful memories for many, but also a reminder of the ways the community came together to support each other in the days after the shooting, Gilroy strong, a phrase that's come to mean so much to so many people.

“It means strength to me–that’s what it means to me–because with Gilroy Strong, we can get through anything,” said Maria Cid who coordinated resources in the days after the shooting.

People came together to bringing food to first responders, stand united at vigils and raise money for the families of the victims and community. They helped raise a total of $1.9 million dollars.

“When the shock wore off, it was time to work. It was trying to get our community together, getting volunteers together, putting together events immediately so we can start healing.” Cid said.

For many of those that jumped into action, this issue hits close to home.

“I’m born and raised in Gilroy. I went to Gilroy High. I grew up here,” One Life Prints Owner Travis Graham said. "This is very very close to our family gilroy and the festival in general.”

Graham is one of several business owners support the community in their time of need. He made t-shirts and hats to raise money.

Owner of Straw Hat Pizza Raj Nayyar made hundreds of pizzas for first responders.

Councilmember Fred Tovar said the outpouring into the community continues.

“A year later, it seems like it hasn’t stopped. Every day or every weekend you see people doing something in remembrance of the victims or in remembrance of the family members,” Councilmember Fred Tovar said.

Tovar was there the day of the shooting. He recalls initially hearing what sounded like fireworks, only to find out it was gunshots.

“Just seeing what happened that weekend was pretty traumatic for a lot of people,” Tovar said.

Tuesday, a #GilroyStrong flag was raised in Gilroy one year after the unimaginable. The city leaders and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office held memorials to honors the victims–the three young lives taken too soon and more than a dozen others injured.

The victim's families continue the healing process. KION spoke with the family of 13-year-old Keyla Salazar, who was killed in the shooting, in the days leading up to the tragic anniversary. Their minds are focused on remembering every moment she lived up until her death.

Her grandmother said Keylita, as she called her, had a big heart, loved animals and was a talented artist.

She said her last drawing was an angel. The family now thinks of Keyla as their guardian angel.

Keyla’s grandmother shared this message to honor the young teenager's life with us:

“God made you our guardian angel, but your love, purity, strength and courage to face difficulties will remain in each one of us.” 

She also shared some memories from Keyla's life with us: Keyla went by the artist name of Frosty. She loved to draw and dream. They'll remember her for her big hugs and for putting others first.

Of the many memories the family has of Keyla, her grandmother remembers Keyla and her little sister going to get ice cream from the heladero, or ice cream man in Spanish. She had a little sheet of paper she would write down what ice cream each family member wanted and would order them from the cart. Her grandmother said she would only eat her ice cream once the rest of the family had theirs.

Her grandmother shared with us that Keyla thought: "¡El mundo sería puro amor si todos tuvieran helados!" Or, "the world would be pure love if everyone had ice cream." She said Keyla believed ice cream could determine the happiness of a person.

Keyla leaves behind her family, including two young sisters ages 5 and 12-years-old.

Her family and other family members of the victims came back to Gilroy to honor their lost loved ones. They all came together with the community at a memorial in Christmas Hill Park where it all began to mark the pain and continue the healing.