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Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooter Killed Himself, Says Coroner

Sruti Mamidanna/KQED
A memorial for the victims of the shooting is placed by the entrance of the Garlic Festival.

Preliminary findings from the Santa Clara County Coroner's Office show the shooter at the Gilroy Garlic Festival died of a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Previously, Gilroy Police have said that three officers had shot and killed 19-year-old Santino William Legan.

In my mind that changes nothing,” said Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee.  “The officers still got there fast.  They engaged him fast. They threw his fire and they eliminated the threat. Whether he fired that final shot or not, in my mind changes nothing,”

At a news conference late Friday, Chief Smithee recapped how investigators believe the shooting ended on Sunday.

“When the shooting started our officers ran to the scene. Within a very short period of time, they engaged the suspect. The suspect turned his attention and his fire towards our officers,” said Smithee.

The officers then shot the suspect striking him multiple times. 

“The suspect went down to the ground, but he still had the rifle with him. And apparently at some point in time during that process. He was able to get one more round off. He was able to shoot himself in the head,” continued Smithee.

Before the shootout with officers, the shooter shot and killed 6-year-old Stephan Romero,  13-year-old Keyla Salazar and 25-year-old Trevor Irby.  He also injured 13 others. 

Krista joined KAZU in 2007. She is an award winning journalist with more than a decade of broadcast experience. Her stories have won regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and honors from the Northern California Radio and Television News Directors Association. Prior to working at KAZU, Krista reported in Sacramento for Capital Public Radio and at television stations in Iowa. Like KAZU listeners, Krista appreciates the in-depth, long form stories that are unique to public radio. She's pleased to continue that tradition in the Monterey Bay Area.
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