
The shooter who killed three people at the Gilroy Garlic Festival was "exploring violent ideologies" and had examined potential other targets that included religious and governmental sites, according to law enforcement officials who spoke on Tuesday.
A motive for the July 28 attack has not been established, FBI Special Agent in Charge John Bennett said, but the deceased gunman, 19-year-old Santino Legan, showed an interested in "varying, competing" ideologies.
The attack, which also wounded 13 attendees, did not appear to have been inspired by previous mass shootings and the gunman did not leave behind a manifesto, according to law enforcement.
The FBI will also investigate the case an act of domestic terrorism, Bennett said.
The FBI did not reveal which religion or creed was among the attacker's list of potential targets, but it appeared that he was interested in attacking sites related to both major political parties as well as courthouses and federal buildings.
The family of Legan released a statement on Tuesday that apologized to the victims.
"We have never and would never condone the hateful thoughts and ideologies that led to this event, and it is impossible to reconcile this with the son we thought we knew," the statement said.
The family also said that it has cooperated with the investigation.
The shooter fired 39 rounds near the close of the three-day garlic festival, law enforcement said, and officers fired back at him 18 times. None of those rounds fired by police struck any of the three people who died.
Authorities revealed other details about the weapons and equipment brought to the festival by the suspect. It included a bulletproof vest. gas mask and a shotgun, which was left in the shooter's car.
Christmas Hill Park, where the attack occurred, remains closed to the public although federal officials have completed their investigation of the crime scene.