James GordonA San Francisco coroner has identified the eight people killed earlier this week when a gunman opened fire along the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (“BART”) tracks during the evening commute. The victims were identified as 46-year-old Sutchi Hui, a Bay Area resident who was a graduate of UC Berkeley; 53-year-old Alicia Kim, a Vietnamese immigrant who was a victim of the Bay Area’s current housing crisis; 26-year-old Gerald Bisbee, a resident of the East Bay who was visiting family in the Bay Area; 41-year-old Claire Goudeau, her husband, 41-year-old Christopher Goudeau, and their two-year-old child,
A vigil was held in San Francisco Friday evening in honor of eight people killed by a shooting spree on a light-rail train. Witnesses said the gunman was arguing with passengers and firing into the crowd before he got off the train and continued his rampage, firing shots at people walking up the street.
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office has identified the eight victims killed by a gunman Wednesday in a shooting at the Valley Transportation Authority light rail station in San Jose.
Nine people, including the gunman, were killed in an early morning shooting at the South Bay train station.
List of victims of the VTA shooting :
Paul Delacruz Meghia, 42 years old.
Taptejdeep Singh, 42.
Adrian Ballesa, 29 years old.
Jose Dehesus Hernandez III, 35 years old
Timothy Michael Romo, age 49.
Mikhail Iosifovich Rudometkin, 40 years old
Abdolwahab Alagmandan, 63
63 Lars Kepler Lane
Another victim, who has not yet been identified, is in critical condition at Valley Medical Center.
Mayor Sam Liccardo told CNN the shooter was no stranger to the people he shot.
It’s clear that the victims and all the employees knew the shooter, Liccardo said.
One of the victims, Rudometkin, had already been identified by his friend, San Jose City Councilman Raul Perales. Rudometkin was an employee of the airline VTA.
My dad and I had just scheduled a golf date with Mikey, and now it won’t happen again. My family and I have lost a wonderful old friend and there are no words to describe the heartbreak we are feeling right now, especially his family, Peralez wrote on his Facebook page.
Taptejdeep Singh was the father of two children, family members told KPIX correspondent Maria Medina.
Family members provided this photo of 42-year-old Tapthejdeep Singh.
He was one of eight victims of the San Jose shooting. He was a father of two children pic.twitter.com/GKYs97Wy5k
– Maria Medina (@MariaKPIX) May 27, 2021
We know he was there and we’ve been trying to reach him since the morning after the incident, but he’s not responding to calls, texts or anything, a neighbor of Mr. Singh told reporters Wednesday afternoon, before the coroner released details. It’s very difficult because he has two young children. All I can think about right now are his kids.
Singh worked as a tram driver for eight or nine years. Among the victims were several bus and light rail carriers.
The others were mechanics, line workers and assistant conductors. One of the victims had worked for the Department of Transportation since 1999.
According to Facebook posts dedicated to the memory of Adrian Balleza, 29, he was a Gilroy resident who grew up in San Jose. Balleza was married and had a young son.
In a Facebook post dedicated to all VTA employees who died Wednesday, Paul Delacruz Meghia was described as a bright spot. The message also stated: My heart breaks for your children and your family.
Although no motive has been established, authorities have confirmed the identity of the shooter, a 57-year-old Valley Transportation Authority employee.
Authorities were notified of the shooting around 6:30 a.m. when a gunman opened fire in a streetcar depot near the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. There were about 75 to 80 people in the building at the time of the shooting, which occurred during a shift change.
The investigation became more complicated after a sniffer dog discovered possible explosives at the scene. Authorities combed the VTA site throughout the day to make sure there were no explosives present.
We received information that there were explosives in the building, Davis said. That’s why we activated our demining team, which is currently on site. We try to clean every room and crack in this building to ensure safety.
Several families, unable to get news of their loved ones, gathered at the county courthouse in downtown San Jose, which had been set up as a center for family reunions.
VTA shooting victim Jose Dehesus Hernandez III. (family photo)
Perales, who said he has known Rudometkin since childhood, also came to the meeting center.
We saw the first report of an active shooter, and I know that’s when my friend goes to work, 8:00 a.m., and they have union meetings, that’s what happened today, the city council said earlier today. He was actually unavailable, a friend’s family was trying to get information and that’s why I came here.
Grieving families of the victims held hands and cried when they heard they had lost a loved one, Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara County District Attorney, told reporters as he described the scene at the county courthouse.
They just sit there and hold hands and cry, Rosen said. It’s terrible. It’s terrible. It’s raw. People hear that they have lost a spouse, a son, a brother. He said there are about 100 people at the family reunion center.
A vigil for the victims will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at San Jose City Hall. Mayor Sam Liccardo, members of the San Jose City Council and representatives from Santa Clara County and the VTA are expected to attend.
Working Partnerships USA, a San Jose-based community organization, and the South Bay Labor Council have established a fund to support the families of shooting victims. Donations can be made at bit.ly/vtasolidarity.
James Gordon
