At least eight people were killed in a mass shooting at a rail yard in San Jose, California. The suspected gunman died at the scene, and was later identified as an employee of the rail facility.
San Jose Police on Wednesday morning descended on a Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light rail maintenance yard, stating that a shooting had taken place, and that the scene was “active.” Locals were advised to “stay out of the area.”
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said shortly afterwards that the shooter was “down,” and the VTA declared the suspect “deceased.”
Speaking to reporters later, sheriff’s office spokesman Russell Davis confirmed "there are eight victims that are pronounced deceased at this point. And there is one suspect that's pronounced deceased."
The suspect was later identified as 57-year-old Sam Cassidy, a VTA employee. Police sources told the Los Angeles Times that Cassidy set his home on fire before the shooting. Bomb squad technicians were seen outside the house, and ammunition was reportedly found inside.
Cassidy died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the sheriff's office said on Wednesday afternoon.
The rail facility where the shooting took place is situated on the same street block as the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and a five minute drive from San Jose International Airport.
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