At least eight people have died and others are being treated for injuries after a gunman opened fire at a public transit rail yard in San Jose Wednesday morning, officials have shared.
The shooting was reported at 6:34 a.m. PT this morning by multiple callers at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Officials say the suspect is dead and VTA employees were victims in the shooting.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo tweeted that several people are “being treated, but the situation is still being assessed” after the incident, and that the facility has since been evacuated.
Russell Davis from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department said at a press conference confirmed that at least eight people have been pronounced dead “at this point.”
Davis also shared that the public is safe and that multiple agencies have been investigating the matter—including the San Jose Fire Department. Agents from both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and from the Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the shooting. After the shooting, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said the incident was a dark moment for the community.
“This is a horrific day for our city, it’s a tragic day for our VTA family,” he said. “We know that so many are feeling deeply this loss of their loved ones and their friends.”
Principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre later said that the White House is “monitoring the situation” and reiterated that the president has previously said we are dealing with an “epidemic of gun violence.”
“I know local officials have addressed this publicly, and there is an ongoing investigation as we all know. We will continue to stay in close contact with them and offer any assistance as needed,” Jean-Pierre said
