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A28 u.s. news
Diahuebs 27 Mei 2021

8 dead in shooting at rail yard serving Silicon Valley

resulted in “multiple major Bomb squads were searching assure him that she was safe.
injuries.” He did not know the rail complex after
the type of weapon used or receiving information about When the shooting started,
whether the gunfire happened possible explosive devices “she got down with the rest of
indoors or outdoors. He said inside the building, Davis her coworkers” and dropped
the victims included VTA said. her cellphone, Michael
employees. Authorities did Hawkins told the newspaper.
not release any of the victims’ VTA trains were already out Rochelle Hawkins did not
names. on morning runs when the see the shooter, and she was
shooting occurred. Light rail not sure how close she had
“These folks were heroes service was to be suspended been to the attacker, her son
during COVID 19, the buses at noon and replaced with bus said.
never stopped running, VTA bridges, agency Chairman
didn’t stop running. They Glenn Hendricks told a news The attack was the county’s
just kept at work, and now conference. second shooting in less than
we’re really calling on them two years. A gunman killed
to be heroes a second time “It’s just very difficult for three people before killing
to survive such a terrible, everyone to be able try to himself at a popular garlic
(AP) — An employee as 57-year-old Sam Cassidy, terrible tragedy,” Santa Clara wrap their heads around festival in Gilroy in July 2019.
opened fire Wednesday according to two law County Supervisor Cindy and understand what has
at a California rail yard enforcement officials. Chavez. happened,” Hendricks said. At a news conference, San
serving Silicon Valley, Investigators offered no Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo
killing eight people immediate word on a possible Santa Clara County District Two patients were lamented the “horrific day
before ending his own life, motive. Attorney Jeff Rosen said it transported to Santa Clara for our city.” Gov. Gavin
authorities said. was his understanding the Valley Medical Center, Newsom said in a tweet that
The shooting took place shooting happened indoors, according to spokesperson his office was “in close contact
The suspect was an employee around 6:30 a.m. at a light rail inside the VTA building. Joy Alexiou. One person with local law enforcement
of the Valley Transportation facility in San Jose next door was pronounced dead upon and monitoring this situation
Authority, which provides to the sheriff’s department Police vehicles and orange arrival, and the other was in closely.”
bus, light rail and other and across a freeway from the crime-scene tape blocked off critical condition.
transit services throughout airport. The facility is a transit the area, and reporters were Agents from the FBI and the
Santa Clara County, the control center that stores kept at a distance The rail yard Outside the scene, Michael federal Bureau of Alcohol,
largest county in the Bay trains and has a maintenance is in the city’s administrative Hawkins told The Mercury Tobacco, Firearms and
Area, Santa Clara County yard. neighborhood, near the News that he was waiting Explosives were responding
sheriff’s authorities said. sheriff’s office and city and for his mother, Rochelle to the crime scene, officials
Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy county offices. Hawkins, who had called him said.
The attacker was identified Russell Davis said the attack from a co-worker’s phone to

Dueling harassment claims in transphobic rant, beer toss

(AP) — A New Jersey vice fight and filed false and frivo- several steps back and, ges- it was for legal reasons. Su-
principal who threw beer Gina Brunner, administra- lous criminal charges against turing toward himself, says, perintendent Tami Crader
at a group of people who tor of Galloway’s municipal them. My clients are not in- “Now you can come out. I’m did not respond to a request
were filming his wife’s court, said Smurro filed ha- timidated and they will hold right here,” before the couple for comment Wednesday.
rant against a transgender rassment complaints against Michael Smurro fully ac- walks away.
woman’s use of a women’s Debra and Robert Harris, countable for his actions.” The Galloway police depart-
restroom, and the people and Elaine Nelson, whose The Neptune school district ment said Wednesday it had
who got hit with the beer hometowns were not imme- The footage from the out- said it has taken “swift and not brought charges in the
are accusing each other of diately available. door restaurant shows Lisa serious” action in the case, case.
harassment. Smurro complaining at but says it cannot reveal what
Those people have also filed length about a person she said
A municipal court judge in harassment charges against was a transgender woman us-
Galloway Township is sched- Smurro; all the claims will ing the women’s bathroom.
uled on Thursday to examine be the subject of a hearing on New Jersey law prohibits dis-
the case of Michael Smurro, Thursday, Brunner said. crimination based on gender
vice principal of Neptune identify and permits people
Middle School in Mon- A complaint filed by two to use public restrooms that
mouth County, as well as other people who say they correspond to their gender
those he accuses of harassing were hit by the beer thrown identity.
him and his wife, Lisa. by Smurro, Carolyn DiPiet-
ro and Christopher Benino, The footage shows that when
Video filmed by patrons at an was rejected after Municipal the couple became aware
outdoor restaurant April 24 Court Judge Howard Freed someone was filming, they
in Galloway shows him toss- determined there was not got up and walked over. Lisa
ing a cup of beer at a table of probable cause to sustain the Smurro continued to com-
people when he and his wife charge. plain and a woman at the ta-
realized they were being re- ble replied: “Please take your
corded. “This case is about standing hate elsewhere.”
up against bigotry, bullying
In an email to The Associated and violence,” said attorney Michael Smurro then tossed
Press days after the incident, David Shanies, who repre- the contents of a cup of beer
Smurro apologized for his sents the Harrises, DiPietro at occupants of the table.
actions, and said he should and Benino. “My clients
have just walked away from rejected transphobic hate “Here you go, pal,” he says
the situation. He did not re- speech, and in response, Mi- on the video. “There you go.”
spond to a message seeking chael Smurro doused them
comment Wednesday. in beer, challenged them to a Michael Smurro then takes