The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage on Tuesday showing law enforcement responding to the May 26 San Jose, Calif., rail yard mass shooting that left 10 people dead.
In the video, a team of sheriff’s deputies and San Jose police officers is seen climbing stairs located on the outside of the building to the third floor. A Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) employee exits the building with his arms in the air and provides the police with a keycard so that they can enter the facility.
The team of law enforcement then begin searching the building with their firearms raised. After a few moments, multiple gunshots ring out. One of the officers is seen looking through a window and calling out that he’s “got somebody down.”
The officers open a door and yell at an individual to show his hands, at which point the dramatic footage reveals the motionless gunman, 57-year-old Samuel Cassidy, slumped over in a chair while holding a gun.
According to Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, the gunman had shot himself in the chin and the side of the head, The Associated Press reported.
Smith praised the officers who “hardly spoke a word to each other” during the incident because “they knew what their job was.”
“There were over 100 VTA employees on site that morning, and I believe the bravery of all of law enforcement personnel really prevented the loss of additional life,” she said.
Officials are still working to determine the gunman’s motive for the rampage, the sheriff said, adding those who knew Cassidy said he would talk about hating his job and was often angry and unpredictable.
“We’re beginning to piece things together. But we’ve talked with hundreds of witnesses,” Smith said.
VTA spokeswoman Stacey Hendler Ross told Mercury News that it could take months for service to resume at the facility, noting that the agency is focused on supporting traumatized employees.
“There is no consideration of bringing light rail service back right now,” Hendler Ross said.
At the moment, the agency and union are encouraging VTA staff members to attend grief counseling and to take advantage of 24-hour support services available in person or through a hotline.
“We are working to balance what we understand are important needs from our passenger and our riding public that depend on public transportation… with the needs of our employees, which are taking priority right now,” she added. “People are still grieving.”
