Family and friends of the nine VTA workers killed Wednesday blanketed the plaza of San Jose City Hall on Thursday, surrounded by hundreds of other workers uniting as one—the “VTA family.” Many in the crowd of hundreds of people broke out in cries, sobbing as speakers went up to pay their respects to those who...
San Jose leaders honor VTA mass shooting victims
Speaker after speaker rose to the podium outside VTA headquarters in San Jose Thursday to speak the names and stories of those lost in yesterday’s mass shooting. Pictures of all nine Valley Transportation Authority workers killed were displayed beside more than a dozen VTA leaders and allies—some struggling to hold back tears as they described the friends and...
New details emerge in San Jose VTA rail yard shooting
New details have emerged about Wednesday’s mass shooting at a VTA light rail yard that left 10 people dead, including the shooter who turned the gun on himself. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith appeared on NBC News’ “Today” show this morning to talk about the latest developments. “We know the suspect entered the facility and...
San Jose councilmember mourns friend lost in VTA shooting
San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez waited to hear back from a childhood friend following Wednesday’s shooting at a Valley Transportation Authority light rail yard—a VTA overhead lineman at the light rail for close to 10 years. His shift ended around 8 a.m., an hour and a half after reports of the shooting. “I was sending him text...
Ninth victim of VTA shooting in San Jose dies, county identifies victims
Santa Clara County’s medical examiner reported late Wednesday another VTA employee died of his injuries in an area hospital after Wednesday’s mass shooting at the agency’s light rail yard. Alex Ward Fritch, 49, was taken to the hospital earlier in the day with critical injuries. He died Wednesday evening, bringing the death toll from the...
San Jose city manager resigns after 34 years
After more than three decades at San Jose City Hall, the city’s top administrator is calling it quits. With the city reeling from a mass shooting at a VTA rail yard earlier Wednesday, City Manager Dave Sykes sent an email to the city’s workforce letting them know he’s retiring this summer. “I immigrated to the...
How you can help victims of San Jose’s VTA mass shooting
One local organization is collecting funds for victims of today’s mass shooting at a VTA light rail yard in downtown San Jose. Reports of a shooting during a union meeting at the Guadalupe Light Rail Yard at 100 West Younger Avenue came in around 6:30 a.m. Law enforcement confirmed nine people died, including the shooter...
Nine dead in San Jose VTA shooting; light rail service suspended
San Jose officials are reeling after a mass shooting Wednesday morning left nine people dead before the shooter — who was a VTA employee — turned the gun on himself. Light rail service was suspended at noon. “A horrible tragedy has happened today and our thoughts and love goes out to the VTA family, the...
Sharks agree not to sue San Jose over Google
After months of loudly opposing Google’s foray into downtown San Jose, the Sharks hockey team has come to an agreement with the city and tech giant. “The city and Google absolutely hear the Sharks’ critical need for essential access,” Jessica Zenk, the city’s deputy director of transportation, said Tuesday. “We will absolutely continue to coordinate...
San Jose-Google benefits fund could take 10 years to pay out
San Jose could approve close to $155 million in community funds from Google as early as today, but the pay out will take some time. The agreement between city administration and the tech giant on its proposed downtown campus development heads to the City Council for a vote tonight, but the money would come in at...