California mass shooting: Multiple dead including gunman in San Jose, police say

Several people have been killed at a mass shooting during a “union meeting” at a California light rail yard, according to police and multiple reports.

As many as eight people may have been killed, sources told The Los Angeles Times, with the 50-year-old male gunman reportedly committing suicide. Multiple weapons and ammunition were reportedly found inside his home.

A fire in San Jose at the same time of the shooting at the alleged gunman’s house is connected to the mass shooting, according to a firefighter quoted by KUTV. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was at the scene of the fire, according to local reports.

Law enforcement sources told the Times that the shooting was related to a workplace issue and that it did not involve riders of Santa Clara County’s light rail system.

Family of a Valley Transportation Authority employee told KTUV that the shooting occurred during a union meeting at 6:34 am local time, which Santa Clara County Sheriff tweeted it responded to just after 7 am local time.

San Jose journalist Robert Salonga first reported that the gunman was among several people killed during the shooting near Younger and San Pedro streets. Santa Clara County Sheriff confirmed the death in a tweet saying “shooter is down”.

While authorities have not confirmed fatalities or casualties beyond the gunman, San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo said several people are being treated for injuries while the situation is being assessed. He told CBS San Francisco that one victim died on the way to the hospital.

Valley Medical Center confirmed that two male victims were brought to the hospital, with the surviving victim in a critical condition.

“The shooter is no longer a threat, and the facility has been evacuated,” Mr Liccardo said in a tweet. “Our hearts are pained for the families of those we have lost in this horrific shooting.”

“We are in a very dark moment but I am heartened to see the response from the VTA family to support their coworkers,” he later added at a press conference.

San Jose Police reported that the shots were first reported at 6:34 am local time, less than two hours before the shooter was confirmed to be killed.

The Mercury News first reported that multiple people were killed in the shooting, with Sheriff deputy Russel Davis confirming “multiple fatalities” and “multiple injuries”. He would not confirm the full death toll or the extent of the injuries.

Mr Russell said law enforcement launched a “rescue operation” with multiple agencies and fire departments as part of their active shooter protocol once arriving on the scene.

The shooting at 100 W Younger Ave is the location of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s maintenance yard, which services rail, bus and shuttle services to the Bay Area. While there were no immediate service disruptions, light rail was suspended from 12 noon local time.

Glen Hendricks, a chairperson on the VTA board of directors, confirmed that the shooting occurred in the light rail yard but not in its control centre.

“A horrible tragedy has happened today,” he said.

VTA spokesperson Brandi Childress told ABC7 the building is not open to the public, so the shooter would have needed employee access or to have broken in.

“We ask for people’s prayers,” Ms Childress said.

The outlet reported that “no more than 10 victims” were employees of VTA. The outlet reported that “no more than 10 victims” were employees of VTA, and that they knew the shooter, according to an employee source that has not been confirmed by police.

Family members looking for survivors have been directed to a nearby County building at 70 W Hedding Street. The VTA said that grief counsellors would be onsite for employees and family.

Raj Singh, the recording and financial secretary for Amalgamated Transit Union local 265, which represents VTA operators, told The Mercury News that the shooting occurred at the busiest time of day when operators and maintenance workers are getting ready for the start of the day’s service.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a tweet he was “in close contact with local law enforcement and monitoring this situation closely”.

Local assembly member Evan Low tweeted he will keep the victims and their loved ones in his thoughts and prayers, but the threat of gun violence is a “constant threat to American life”.

“I hope we also acknowledge that the status quo on gun violence in this country is unsustainable if we are truly committed to building a safe and just society,” he said.

This is a developing story.