The Nevada businessman who reportedly sold the rifle used by the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooter posted on Facebook that he hopes the 19-year-old murderer will “rot in hell.”
The post was on the Facebook page of Big Mike’s Gun and Ammo and came after a previous post on the same page, signed off by “Mike” and noting that the gun store did not suspect the shooter to be a threat.
“The shooter in CA, I hope you rot in hell. We pray for the victims. My heart hurts for all of them,” the next post read.
Santino William Legan entered the Gilroy Garlic Festival Sunday and began firing indiscriminately into the crowd, killing three and injuring 12 more. Among the dead are 6-year-old Stephen Romero, 13-year-old Keyla Salazar, and 25-year-old Trevor Irby.
The exact motive for the shooting is still unclear, although the suspect was reportedly interested in literature associated with white supremacy and anti-Semitism.
Authorities say that Legan purchased the AK-47 style rifle legally in neighboring Nevada, but broke the law by bringing it into California. The man who reportedly sold the gun, said in the earlier post that his shop is “a small home business,” and lamented the tragedy.
“We feel so very sorry for the Families, I am heartbroken this could ever happen,” he wrote. “We are a small home business, we sell to people who we think are upstanding citizens to promote safe sport shooting. I pray to God for all the families.
“I did not know this individual. He ordered the rifle off my internet page. When I did see him, he was acting happy and showed no reasons for concern. I would never ever sell any firearm to anyone who acted wrong or looks associated with any bad group like white power,” he added.
Police are still searching for a motive for the shooting, while the small community of about 50,000 continues to recover from the violence.
