The bodies of Wednesday’s VTA rail yard shooting victims have been removed by the Santa Clara Medical Examiner-Coroner, but the crime scene and investigation remain very active on Thursday.
We’re learning that the gunman was well armed: He had three semi-automatic weapons and 32 high-capacity magazines loaded with additional ammunition, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Officials on Thursday afternoon identified the suspect as 57-year-old Samual Cassidy, a man they labeled as "highly disgruntled...for many years, which may have contributed to why he targeted VTA employees."
He fired 39 shots and apparently selected his targets, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Deputy Russell Davis said on Thursday.
"I'm not going to shoot you," Cassidy told at least one person.
A Biden administration official told The Wall Street Journal that Cassidy spoke of hating his workplace when he was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers after a 2016 trip to the Philippines, an incident listed in a Department of Homeland Security memo.
Cassidy had a memo book that contained notes on how he hated the VTA, but claimed he didn't have issues with people at work when asked about it.
Cassidy talked about killing people at work more than a decade ago, his ex-wife told The Associated Press. "I never believed him, and it never happened. Until now," a tearful Cecilia Nelms said.
Smith said there’s no early indication that the guns Cassidy had were illegal.
"(The) San Jose Police Department is doing the scene at the house but I believe there were explosives found there," she told KCBS Radio. "(At the VTA facility) our dogs alerted on what turned out to be his locker. In it was the precursor items…for explosives like detonator cord and stuff like that. But no actual device."
Bomb-making materials were found at both crime scenes, including that detonator cord in the man’s VTA locker. We’re told the crime scene at the light rail yard belongs to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
VTA is operating buses on Thursday, but not light rail vehicles. San Mateo County bus drivers and buses have been sent here to help with operations.
Among the nine victims was the nephew of a deputy sergeant in Santa Clara County. "I commend our staff, but my heart sure goes out to the victims and the victims’ families," she added.
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