In Northern California, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is a beloved yearly food fair that many look forward to each year. This year’s event ended in tragedy. On the last day of the festival, a gunman, who carried an assault-type rifle and snuck onto the grounds, opened fire and killed three and injured many more. Among the victims was Steven Romero, a 6-year-old who died at the hospital.
“There’s nothing I really can do besides try to be with him until I can put him in his resting spot, wherever that is,” his father, Alberto Romero, told NBC Bay Area. “…My son had his whole life to live and he was only 6. That’s all I can say.”
His father was at home when he heard news of the shooting. Steven’s mother and grandmother were among those injured. When his wife told him that their son was shot, Alberto was in disbelief.
When he headed to the hospital, he learned more about his state.
“They told me he was in critical condition and that they were working on him,” he said, according to CNN. “Five minutes later they told me he was dead.”