5 years in the past, U.S. Customs and Border Safety detained the suspected gunman in Wednesday’s capturing spree in San Jose and located that he expressed hatred of the rail yard the place he labored and is now accused of killing 9 individuals.
In 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Safety stopped the suspect, Samuel James Cassidy, on a visit again from the Philippines, based on a Division of Homeland Safety memo from the cease obtained by The Wall Avenue Journal.
An officer discovered Cassidy had “books about terrorism and worry and manifestos … in addition to a black memo ebook crammed with numerous notes about how he hates the VTA,” based on the memo. When he was requested if he had issues with anybody at work, Cassidy stated, “no,” based on the memo.
A Biden administration official stated he noticed the memo and confirmed its contents to The Related Press.
A spokesperson for the Division of Homeland Safety declined to touch upon the memo to USA TODAY. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Workplace, which is main the investigation into the capturing, didn’t reply to repeated questions on whether or not they have been notified concerning the 2016 cease or investigated Cassidy afterward.
A Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority spokesperson Friday, responding to a queston about whether or not Cassidy ever stated or did something to make workers uneasy, stated the authority was reviewing all information that pertain to Cassidy.
‘Such excessive steps’: SaSan Jose killer intricately deliberate rail assault with a easy motive in thoughts
This is what we all know Friday:
Witnesses say shooter focused particular individuals, was an ‘outsider’
The contents of the memo align with the image regulation enforcement has painted thus far of a person who seems to have kindled hatred in opposition to the individuals he labored with for a decade.
As Cassidy gunned down 9 different workers earlier than taking his personal life, witnesses say he focused particular individuals.
Sheriff Laurie Smith stated Cassidy instructed no less than one individual “I’m not going to shoot you,” earlier than capturing others.
“So I think about there was some sort of thought on who he needed to shoot,” Smith stated.
‘They didn’t wait’: Officers rushed into San Jose rail yard as gunshots have been nonetheless ringing out, authorities say
Kirk Bertolet, a sign upkeep employee who labored in a separate unit from Cassidy, instructed the Related Press that the suspect did not harm individuals he encountered on the way in which to the second constructing, the place extra pictures have been fired.
“Sam made certain he killed all who he needed. He made certain they have been useless,” Bertolet stated. “I watched a few of my coworkers breathe their final breaths, they usually have been all gone. Seven of them have been simply gone.”
Bertolet known as Cassidy an “outsider,” saying, “He was by no means within the group. He was by no means accepted by anyone. You look again and also you go, ‘yeah, it suits.'”
Who have been the victims?
9 individuals died within the capturing, and among the many victims have been bus and lightweight rail operators, mechanics, linemen and an assistant superintendent.
The victims have been: Paul Delacruz Megia, 42; Taptejdeep Singh, 36; Adrian Balleza, 29; Jose Dejesus Hernandez, 35; Timothy Michael Romo, 49; Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40; Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63; Lars Kepler Lane, 63; and Alex Ward Fritch, 49, based on the Santa Clara County coroner’s workplace.
VTA mild rail upkeep operations supervisor George Sandoval stated at a Thursday information convention that there’s a sturdy connection amongst most of the company’s workers.
“Many of those of us labored right here for 20, 30 years, so sure, we do turn into a household,” Sandoval stated. “Our employees reply to emergencies on the rail and there’s a bond.”
He tried to warn his co-workers, then he was shot:Family members mourn victims of capturing at San Jose rail yard
Victims honored at vigil
About 1,000 individuals gathered Thursday evening at a vigil outdoors of San Jose’s metropolis corridor as relations tearfully remembered their beloved one as heroes and function fashions.
Taptejdeep Singh’s brother, Karman, stated his brother had a “lion’s coronary heart.” Because the gunman opened hearth, Taptejdeep Singh rushed out of the security of an workplace to assist others escape, witnesses instructed his household.
Annette Romo, whose husband Timothy Michael died, instructed the gang, “By no means go away residence with out giving the one you love a kiss. Trigger that was the final I received.”
A GoFundMe spokesperson stated a centralized hub for figuring out and verifying fundraisers for the victims and their households has been arrange at gofundme.com/san-jose-strong.
Suspect ready for the capturing for years, police say
Police say Cassidy, 57, plotted intricately for the capturing. He gathered weapons, examine terrorism, harbored bomb-making supplies and rigged his residence to go up in an inferno as he got down to kill 9 fellow workers.
Earlier than Cassidy left his residence round 5:39 a.m., he set a timer or slow-burn machine to set his residence on hearth, stated Smith, the Santa Clara County sheriff.
Authorities say they discovered an assortment of what gave the impression to be bomb-making supplies in Cassidy’s locker — forcing a lockdown of the realm and bomb technicians to brush the big advanced.
Sheriff’s Deputy Russell Davis stated Cassidy had three semi-automatic 9mm handguns together with 32 high-capacity magazines loaded with further ammunition.
Those that knew Cassidy, 57, stated he had anger and alcohol points, threatened office violence and talked for years about his hatred of his office on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority mild rail hub.
Cecilia Nelms, who was married to Cassidy for about 10 years earlier than they filed for divorce in 2005, instructed The Mercury Information that he was typically was offended at coworkers and about his assignments at work, although she stated she hasn’t spoken with him in about greater than a decade.
One other lady who dated Cassidy accused him of rape and sexual assault, based on court docket paperwork from 2009 obtained by The Mercury Information. The paperwork additionally embody accusations that Cassidy had extreme temper swings and suffered from alcohol abuse.
Contributing: John Bacon and Grace Hauck, USA TODAY; The Related Press
Contact Information Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or observe her on Twitter at @christinetfern.
