San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has invited the public to a vigil at 6:00pm.
The Bay Area was rocked by a mass shooting near downtown San Jose yesterday morning, when a VTA employee shot and killed 8 people and then himself at a VTA maintenance yard. A 9th victim died late Wednesday at the hospital. Details are still emerging about the story, but any members of the public are welcome to attend a public vigil at 6:00pm in front of San Jose City Hall.
Please join us tomorrow Thursday, May 27 at City Hall Plaza at 6:00p.m. for a vigil for the victims of the recent VTA shooting. This is a moment for us to come together and grieve after today’s horrific tragedy.
— Sam Liccardo (@sliccardo) May 26, 2021
The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63; Adrian Balleza, 29; Alex Ward Fritch, 49; Jose Dejesus Hernandez III, 35; Lars Kepler Lane, 63; Paul Delacruz Megia, 42; Timothy Michael Romo, 49; Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40; and Taptejdeep Singh, 36.
Working Partnerships USA, a Silicon Valley-based social services organization, has set up a fund to support the victims and their families. Learn about making a donation here.
President Biden and others took to Twitter to express their feelings about the tragedy and gun control reform. Vice President Harris, a Bay Area native, reportedly called San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo directly.
We are still awaiting many of the details of this latest mass shooting in San Jose, but there are some things we know for sure. There are at least eight families who will never be whole again. Every life taken by a bullet pierces the soul of our nation.
We must do more.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 26, 2021
Thank you to @VP @KamalaHarris for calling to share words of support and strength at this difficult time, and to @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom for coming to @CityofSanJose to spend several hours with our grieving families.
— Sam Liccardo (@sliccardo) May 26, 2021
“What the hell’s going on in the United States? What the hell’s wrong with us? And when are we going to come to grips with this? When are going to put down our arms, literally and figuratively?” California Gov. @GavinNewsom about the San Jose mass shooting pic.twitter.com/wveo92IUev
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) May 27, 2021
The vigil at San Jose City Hall will happen tonight, Thursday May 27 at 6:00pm in the building’s front plaza.
[Featured Image: Calimedia via Shutterstock]