The twisted story of a gunman who killed nine co-workers and then himself on Wednesday at San Jose’s Valley Transportation Authority rail yard took an even darker turn on Friday as authorities revealed the disturbing list of items discovered in his home.
Multiple cans of gasoline, suspected Molotov cocktails, 12 firearms and an estimated 22,000 rounds of ammunition were discovered at the home, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said. Officials added they now believe Samuel Cassidy, 57, "coordinated the destruction" of his East San Jose residence at 1178 Angmar Court before the mass shooting.
Ealier Friday, San Jose Police confirmed they detonated a suspicious item at the home just after 12 p.m.
"They located a suspicious device which they could not completely identify or rule out as being an explosive, but was suspicious enough they decided to render it safe," San Jose Police Public Information Officer Steve Aponte said. "In doing so, they used a small charge that disabled any potential damage to the residence and officers on scene as well as firefighters."
Officer Aponte told KCBS Radio after that operation, the bomb squad was able to local and examine the device, which turned out to only be batteries and wiring. The device was ruled inert.
Authorities with the FBI, ATF, fire department, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and police have been at the site for three days keeping neighbors out as they meticulously comb through this house for fear that there may be explosives inside. Aponte explained it was "a hoarding situation" inside Cassidy’s house, with lots of clutter and debris investigators had to work around. Now that they’ve cleared the suspicious item in the attic they’re boarding up the house and letting neighbors back in the area.
The broader investigation into the Wednesday shooting will continue as to what led up to the incident involving this man, whom the sheriff’s office described as a "disgruntled VTA employee."
The VTA confirmed he was scheduled to report for a regular workday on Wednesday but denied reports that he was the subject of a disciplinary hearing the same day as the shooting.
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