An worker opened fireplace Wednesday at a California rail yard, killing eight individuals earlier than taking his personal life as legislation enforcement rushed in, authorities mentioned, marking the newest assault in a 12 months that has seen a pointy enhance in mass killings because the nation emerges from coronavirus restrictions.The County of Santa Clara’s Workplace of the Medical Examiner-Coroner has recognized all eight victims beneath:Paul Delacruz Megia, 42Taptejdeep Singh, 36Adrian Balleza, 29Jose Dejesus Hernandez III, 35Timothy Michael Romo, 49Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63Lars Kepler Lane, 63The taking pictures came about round 6:30 a.m. in two buildings which can be a part of a lightweight rail facility for the Valley Transportation Authority, which offers bus, gentle rail and different transit companies all through Santa Clara County, essentially the most populated county within the San Francisco Bay Space. The power in San Jose features a transit-control middle, parking for trains and a upkeep yard.”When our deputies went via the door, initially he was nonetheless firing rounds. When our deputy noticed him, he took his life,” Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith informed reporters. Deputies “had been going via hallways saying, ‘Sheriff’s workplace!’ He knew at the moment that his time for firing pictures was over.”A person wounded within the assault was in crucial situation at Santa Clara Valley Medical Middle, spokesperson Pleasure Alexiou mentioned.The attacker was recognized as 57-year-old Sam Cassidy, in keeping with two legislation enforcement officers. Investigators provided no instant phrase on a attainable motive.His ex-wife, Cecilia Nelms, informed The Related Press that Cassidy had a foul mood and would inform her that he wished to kill individuals at work, “however I by no means believed him, and it by no means occurred. Till now.”Nelms, teary-eyed and shaken by the information, mentioned her ex-husband would come residence wound up and offended about issues that occurred at work. As he talked about it, “he would get extra mad,” she mentioned. “He might dwell on issues.”When Cassidy misplaced his mood, Nelms mentioned there have been instances she was scared. He was somebody who might bodily damage others, she mentioned. Nelms mentioned they had been married for 10 years — Cassidy filed for divorce in 2005 — and had not been in touch for 13 years. She mentioned he had been handled for melancholy.Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Russell Davis mentioned he didn’t know the kind of weapon used within the assault. Bomb squads searched the rail complicated after receiving details about attainable explosive gadgets, he mentioned.Members of a union representing Valley Transportation Authority employees had been assembly when the taking pictures started, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo mentioned, however it’s not clear it was associated to the assault.When she heard pictures, transit authority mechanic Rochelle Hawkins mentioned she dropped her cellphone.”I used to be operating so quick. I simply ran for my life,” she mentioned. “I might hope everybody would simply pray for the VTA household. Simply pray for us.”Authorities didn’t establish the victims, who included transit staff. Grief-stricken households sat huddled collectively after studying they’d misplaced a cherished one, District Legal professional Jeff Rosen informed reporters.”They’re simply sitting and holding fingers and crying,” Rosen mentioned. “It is horrible. It is terrible. It is uncooked. Individuals are studying they misplaced their husband, their son, their brother.”Different family and friends members awaited information after being unable to succeed in their family members via calls or textual content messages. Some had tracked the lacking particular person’s cellphone to the rail yard however had no data from authorities.”It is this terrible, darkish second for them, of not figuring out however on the similar time, fearing the worst,” Liccardo mentioned. “I am unable to think about a extra terrible feeling for any partner or guardian.”Christina Gonzalez informed The San Francisco Chronicle that her cousin, Michael Rudometkin, was a longtime VTA worker.Video beneath: Household reunites after San Jose taking pictures”We’re simply actually, actually hoping this is not the place they inform us the dangerous information,” Gonzalez informed the newspaper. “Please, simply pray.”Officers additionally had been investigating a home fireplace that broke out shortly earlier than the taking pictures, Davis mentioned. Public data present Cassidy owned a two-story residence the place firefighters responded. Fireplace crews discovered a fast-moving blaze after being notified by a passer-by. A neighboring home additionally caught fireplace, authorities mentioned.Doug Suh, who lives throughout the road from Cassidy, informed The Mercury Information in San Jose that Cassidy was “lonely” and “unusual” and that he by no means noticed anybody go to.”I would say howdy, and he’d simply take a look at me with out saying something,” Suh mentioned. As soon as, Cassidy yelled at him to remain away as he was backing up his automobile. “After that, I by no means talked to him once more.”Cassidy had labored for Valley Transportation Authority since not less than 2012, in keeping with the general public payroll and pension database referred to as Clear California. His place from 2012 to 2014 was listed as a mechanic. After that, he maintained substations, the data mentioned.Gov. Gavin Newsom, talking emotionally in entrance of a county workplace the place flags flew at half-staff, mentioned victims’ family had been “ready to listen to from the coroner, ready to listen to from any of us, simply determined to seek out out if their brother, their son, their dad, their mother continues to be alive.”The Sikh Coalition tweeted that it understood “there are lots of Sikhs employed at this facility.” The New York-based advocacy group mentioned “the neighborhood is in our prayers and our hearts as we work to study extra.” It comes after 4 Sikhs had been amongst eight individuals killed in a taking pictures in April at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis.The bloodshed comes amid an increase in mass killings after the pandemic had closed many public locations and saved individuals confined to their houses final 12 months.A database compiled by The Related Press, USA In the present day and Northeastern College that tracks each mass killing over the past 15 years reveals that the San Jose assault is the fifteenth mass killing thus far in 2023, all of them shootings.Eighty-six individuals have died within the shootings, in contrast with 106 for all of 2023. It’s the sixth mass killing in a public place in 2023. The database defines mass killings as 4 or extra individuals lifeless, not together with the shooter, which means the general toll of gun violence is way increased when including in smaller incidents.On the White Home, President Joe Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and urged Congress to behave on laws to curb gun violence.”Each life that’s taken by a bullet pierces the soul of our nation. We will, and we should, do extra,” Biden mentioned in a press release.San Jose, the Tenth-largest metropolis within the U.S. with greater than 1,000,000 individuals, is about 50 miles south of San Francisco within the coronary heart of Silicon Valley. Trains had been already out on morning runs when the taking pictures occurred. Gentle rail service was suspended and changed with bus bridges, company Chairman Glenn Hendricks informed reporters.Wednesday’s assault was Santa Clara County’s second taking pictures in lower than two years. A gunman killed three individuals after which himself at a preferred garlic competition in Gilroy in July 2019.The Gilroy assault was on Mayor Liccardo’s thoughts Wednesday as textual content messages flooded in, reporting the taking pictures and fireplace.”Not once more,” he thought as he jumped in his automobile and raced to Metropolis Corridor. Transit authority employees informed him they knew Cassidy.”You attempt to perceive what would possess somebody to try this a lot hurt,” Liccardo mentioned by cellphone. “It is unfathomable.”___Associated Press writers Janie Har in San Francisco, John Antczak and Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, and Michael Balsamo and Colleen Lengthy in Washington contributed to this report.
An worker opened fireplace Wednesday at a California rail yard, killing eight individuals earlier than taking his personal life as legislation enforcement rushed in, authorities mentioned, marking the newest assault in a 12 months that has seen a pointy enhance in mass killings because the nation emerges from coronavirus restrictions.
The County of Santa Clara’s Workplace of the Medical Examiner-Coroner has recognized all eight victims beneath:
Commercial
- Paul Delacruz Megia, 42
- Taptejdeep Singh, 36
- Adrian Balleza, 29
- Jose Dejesus Hernandez III, 35
- Timothy Michael Romo, 49
- Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40
- Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63
- Lars Kepler Lane, 63
The taking pictures came about round 6:30 a.m. in two buildings which can be a part of a lightweight rail facility for the Valley Transportation Authority, which offers bus, gentle rail and different transit companies all through Santa Clara County, essentially the most populated county within the San Francisco Bay Space. The power in San Jose features a transit-control middle, parking for trains and a upkeep yard.
“When our deputies went via the door, initially he was nonetheless firing rounds. When our deputy noticed him, he took his life,” Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith informed reporters. Deputies “had been going via hallways saying, ‘Sheriff’s workplace!’ He knew at the moment that his time for firing pictures was over.”
A person wounded within the assault was in crucial situation at Santa Clara Valley Medical Middle, spokesperson Pleasure Alexiou mentioned.
The attacker was recognized as 57-year-old Sam Cassidy, in keeping with two legislation enforcement officers. Investigators provided no instant phrase on a attainable motive.
His ex-wife, Cecilia Nelms, informed The Related Press that Cassidy had a foul mood and would inform her that he wished to kill individuals at work, “however I by no means believed him, and it by no means occurred. Till now.”
Nelms, teary-eyed and shaken by the information, mentioned her ex-husband would come residence wound up and offended about issues that occurred at work. As he talked about it, “he would get extra mad,” she mentioned. “He might dwell on issues.”
When Cassidy misplaced his mood, Nelms mentioned there have been instances she was scared. He was somebody who might bodily damage others, she mentioned.
Nelms mentioned they had been married for 10 years — Cassidy filed for divorce in 2005 — and had not been in touch for 13 years. She mentioned he had been handled for melancholy.
Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Russell Davis mentioned he didn’t know the kind of weapon used within the assault. Bomb squads searched the rail complicated after receiving details about attainable explosive gadgets, he mentioned.
Members of a union representing Valley Transportation Authority employees had been assembly when the taking pictures started, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo mentioned, however it’s not clear it was associated to the assault.
When she heard pictures, transit authority mechanic Rochelle Hawkins mentioned she dropped her cellphone.
“I used to be operating so quick. I simply ran for my life,” she mentioned. “I might hope everybody would simply pray for the VTA household. Simply pray for us.”
Authorities didn’t establish the victims, who included transit staff. Grief-stricken households sat huddled collectively after studying they’d misplaced a cherished one, District Legal professional Jeff Rosen informed reporters.
“They’re simply sitting and holding fingers and crying,” Rosen mentioned. “It is horrible. It is terrible. It is uncooked. Individuals are studying they misplaced their husband, their son, their brother.”
Different family and friends members awaited information after being unable to succeed in their family members via calls or textual content messages. Some had tracked the lacking particular person’s cellphone to the rail yard however had no data from authorities.
“It is this terrible, darkish second for them, of not figuring out however on the similar time, fearing the worst,” Liccardo mentioned. “I am unable to think about a extra terrible feeling for any partner or guardian.”
Christina Gonzalez informed The San Francisco Chronicle that her cousin, Michael Rudometkin, was a longtime VTA worker.
Video beneath: Household reunites after San Jose taking pictures
“We’re simply actually, actually hoping this is not the place they inform us the dangerous information,” Gonzalez informed the newspaper. “Please, simply pray.”
Officers additionally had been investigating a home fireplace that broke out shortly earlier than the taking pictures, Davis mentioned. Public data present Cassidy owned a two-story residence the place firefighters responded. Fireplace crews discovered a fast-moving blaze after being notified by a passer-by. A neighboring home additionally caught fireplace, authorities mentioned.
Doug Suh, who lives throughout the road from Cassidy, informed The Mercury Information in San Jose that Cassidy was “lonely” and “unusual” and that he by no means noticed anybody go to.
“I would say howdy, and he’d simply take a look at me with out saying something,” Suh mentioned. As soon as, Cassidy yelled at him to remain away as he was backing up his automobile. “After that, I by no means talked to him once more.”
Cassidy had labored for Valley Transportation Authority since not less than 2012, in keeping with the general public payroll and pension database referred to as Clear California. His place from 2012 to 2014 was listed as a mechanic. After that, he maintained substations, the data mentioned.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, talking emotionally in entrance of a county workplace the place flags flew at half-staff, mentioned victims’ family had been “ready to listen to from the coroner, ready to listen to from any of us, simply determined to seek out out if their brother, their son, their dad, their mother continues to be alive.”
The Sikh Coalition tweeted that it understood “there are lots of Sikhs employed at this facility.” The New York-based advocacy group mentioned “the neighborhood is in our prayers and our hearts as we work to study extra.” It comes after 4 Sikhs had been amongst eight individuals killed in a taking pictures in April at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis.
The bloodshed comes amid an increase in mass killings after the pandemic had closed many public locations and saved individuals confined to their houses final 12 months.
A database compiled by The Related Press, USA In the present day and Northeastern College that tracks each mass killing over the past 15 years reveals that the San Jose assault is the fifteenth mass killing thus far in 2023, all of them shootings.
Eighty-six individuals have died within the shootings, in contrast with 106 for all of 2023. It’s the sixth mass killing in a public place in 2023. The database defines mass killings as 4 or extra individuals lifeless, not together with the shooter, which means the general toll of gun violence is way increased when including in smaller incidents.
On the White Home, President Joe Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and urged Congress to behave on laws to curb gun violence.
“Each life that’s taken by a bullet pierces the soul of our nation. We will, and we should, do extra,” Biden mentioned in a press release.
San Jose, the Tenth-largest metropolis within the U.S. with greater than 1,000,000 individuals, is about 50 miles south of San Francisco within the coronary heart of Silicon Valley.
Trains had been already out on morning runs when the taking pictures occurred. Gentle rail service was suspended and changed with bus bridges, company Chairman Glenn Hendricks informed reporters.
Wednesday’s assault was Santa Clara County’s second taking pictures in lower than two years. A gunman killed three individuals after which himself at a preferred garlic competition in Gilroy in July 2019.
The Gilroy assault was on Mayor Liccardo’s thoughts Wednesday as textual content messages flooded in, reporting the taking pictures and fireplace.
“Not once more,” he thought as he jumped in his automobile and raced to Metropolis Corridor. Transit authority employees informed him they knew Cassidy.
“You attempt to perceive what would possess somebody to try this a lot hurt,” Liccardo mentioned by cellphone. “It is unfathomable.”
___
Related Press writers Janie Har in San Francisco, John Antczak and Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, and Michael Balsamo and Colleen Lengthy in Washington contributed to this report.
