Hundreds mourn mass shooting victims in San Jose vigil
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KION) Hundreds of residents gathered at San Jose City Hall for a vigil, remembering those who lost their lives to a mass shooting at a VTA facility on Wednesday.
The people gathered on the steps, atop the railings and above the traffic lights to remember those victims at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
"I'm just sad, I don't know.. I can't believe this happened," said Marga Sarrecola, a San Jose resident.
Complete strangers, laying down flowers and lighting candles for the nine victims who lost their lives at the VTA facility. Hundreds more gathered together to hear their names read aloud and to show that the families are not alone. There is a community behind them.
"I felt like it was the least I can do. I don't drive, so I take VTA all the time to get to my work," said Karthika Sasikumar, a San Jose resident who attended the vigil. "I think the drivers do an awesome job, they're very, very helpful, they're really valued members of the community."
"I've seen some other community members, like I saw my old pastor from Santa Cruz and just people coming here to show solidarity for the community. Especially in times like this, it's great to see," said Jenn Santos, another San Jose resident.
First responders also showed up to pay their respects. Even VTA bus drivers drove by and honked in support for their fallen coworkers. Relatives, friends and strangers all coming together as one family.
Out of those KION spoke with, one thing became clear: sights like these have become all too common in America.
"I hate to say this, but I actually kind of expected that one day, there would be a mass shooting in my city because we have seen that happen so many times so often in America that it didn't shock me that much to be honest," said Sasikumar.
"There should be change, there be change because for everybody to be safe. We like to be safe again, like the years before," said Sarrecola.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Hundreds of people gathered at San Jose City Hall on Thursday evening to mourn the victims of the San Jose mass shooting. The killings of the VTA employees by one of their own co-workers shook the city and the nation.
Many arrived with flowers and candles to pay their respects to nine people who lost their lives at the VTA rail yard facility. One of the victims died overnight at a San Jose hospital.
KION’s Josh Kristianto will have more at 10 and 11.
