As the 41st annual Garlic Festival was in full swing, Christopher Ranch’s executive vice president, Ken Christopher told the Gilroy Dispatch that this year could potentially change the festival forever.
With bigger-name celebrities than ever before, Christopher’s most pressing concern on the festival’s second day was whether there would be enough parking. Christopher said the festival was “the ultimate unifier in a world where there might be a little bit of turmoil.”
But the festival wouldn’t stay untouched by the turmoil of the outside world: A day later, the festival, founded by Christopher’s father and the city of Gilroy, would be in the eye of the latest storm of senseless gun violence.
On the festival’s closing night a teenage gunman opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle on crowd of people visiting food vendors and enjoying the children’s bounce house. Police say the gunman killed three people—Stephen Romero, Keyla Salazar and Trevor Irby—and wounded 12 others, leaving Gilroy irrevocably changed.
With the city reeling from the tragedy, community leaders and members sought ways to come together.
The hashtag #GilroyStrong—and subsequent black-and-white T-shirts—appeared on social media. The catch phrase was the theme of an emotional outdoor vigil and community rally the evening of July 29, attended by more than 1,000 people.
Standing in front of City Hall, Mayor Roland Velasco promised Gilroyans that the city would recover. “It may not be tomorrow,” said Velasco, “but we will heal from this.”
Gilroy residents Michael Hingle and Manny Macias created Gilroy Strong t-shirts that they planned to gift to first responders in the area.
Another vigil was planned for Thursday, Aug. 1, off Fifth and Monterey streets in downtown Gilroy. This gathering was being planned by the Gilroy Downtown Business Association and Councilmember Fred Tovar.
Cal-Silk was to begin selling #GilroyStrong merchandise July 30 for $20, promising that the proceeds would go toward the victims’ families.
Governor Gavin Newsom released a statement following the shooting and visited the South County to meet with the victims and those affected by the tragedy. He was at Santa Clara Valley Medical’s trauma center to speak with survivors.
Christopher Ranch has been involved in the festival since its inception. Ken Christopher released a statement July 29 on behalf of his family.
“There are no words to properly express the magnitude of this tragedy. What happened was unthinkable, and our family, much like yours, is still trying to come to terms with last night’s events, wrote Christopher. “In the days to come, our emotions will be scattered across the spectrum, ranging from absolute sorrow to understandable anger. In times like this, it is critical that our community stands together to support one another to shoulder the pain that we are all experiencing in this aftermath.”
“An event like this is an attempt to tear people apart, but what it will inevitably do is bring us together, as a fellowship, as a community, as a family. Gilroy is love. Gilroy is strong.”
Big ups to the Gilroy Police department… and the officers who took that piece of s%&t in less than a minute… imagine if they didn’t get there until 5 minutes more…. true heroes…
As a Gilroy resident I would also like to Thank the Gilroy PD, FD, Paramedic’s, Hospital Staff, Volunteers, and all of the support we got from Neighboring Locations. This brings tears to my eyes that 3 children had to die, and many injured. Its going to be a long road to get back to normal around here. The hero’s, the 3 Police officers who ran into the face of Danger need to be recognized. I hope Gilroy will Honor them someway fitting, Medals, Parade something. And please let the public know when and where, because I want to be there to cheer. I’m heart broken for the families that lost someone and Pray to God that he will forgive us for not being able to protect them. Now they are standing with God, and He will protect them.