Gunman starts shooting at Garlic festival in Gilroy California, three dead

Three people were killed and several others injured after a gunman opened fire at food festival in California.

Police officers shot down the gunman shortly after he began firing.

Further police investigations reported that a second suspect might still be at large.

The first victim to be identified dead was six-year old Stephen Romero. His mother and grandmother were also wounded.

Stephen’s father told Mercury news that he was at home with his nine-year old daughter when he got the panicked call from his wife.

“I couldn’t believe that was happening, that what she was saying was a lie, that maybe I was dreaming” said Mr Romero.

“He was joyful, always wanted to play, always positive,” he said, adding that the boy’s mother has been placed in a medically induced coma after being shot in the stomach and her mother was being treated for a gunshot wound in the leg.

The killer was later identified as 19-year-old Santino William Legan, according to CBS News.

The suspect entered the festival after cutting through a perimeter fence, Gilroy chief of police Scot Smithee told reporters. He also said told that there were reports by witnesses of the involvement of a second suspect.

Videos posted online showed people running away from the festival.

President Trump on Monday thanked the police officers for their swift response.

He called the attacker “a wicked murderer” and vowed that the US would grieve for the families of victims and “ask the God comfort them”.

According to US tracking website Gun Violence Archive, this attack marked the 246th mass shooting in the US this year.