Celebrities react to death of 6-year-old in Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting: 'My heart is broken'
A 6-year-old boy, Stephen Romero, was among at least three people killed Sunday during the mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California — and celebrities are among those paying tribute to the young victim while once again calling for more effective gun laws.
Romero was attending the food and music festival with his mother and grandmother, his father said. The child was playing in a bounce house and was shot in the back and died. The women were both injured along with at least 13 others.
The two other people who died were a 13-year-old girl and a man in his 20s, police said. So far they have not been identified.
Billy Baldwin was among the outraged celebrities reacting to the horror. The actor blamed “Trump’s culture of anger” for enabling “another angry white gunman with an assault rifle to mow down more innocent women and children.”
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Trump’s culture of anger enables another angry, white gunman with an assault rifle to mow down more innocent women and children.#StephenRomero#GilroyShooting pic.twitter.com/LV5HN73Jk8— Billy Baldwin (@BillyBaldwin) July 29, 2019
Police say the triggerman was Santino William Legan, 19, who opened fire on the crowds attending the outdoor festival in Gilroy, Calif., with an assault-style rifle, which he reportedly legally purchased in Nevada in early July, and appeared to shoot at random. He was also killed during the melee.
Julianne Moore, who works with Everytown for Gun Safety, honored the youngest victim, saying that her “heart is broken” for the families, and implored lawmakers to “stop gun violence now.” The actress added that all citizens are “unsafe” as long as politicians “allow gun lobbyists to write our gun laws.”
Katie Couric noted, “This is the 246th mass shooting in the US THIS YEAR.” She went on to say she is “sickened by this, we all should be. This is unacceptable. Don’t be sad. Get angry. Elect officials at the local, state and national level who care about common sense gun reform and are brave enough to do something about it.”
She shared a heartbreaking photo of the smiling boy marking his sixth birthday.
Rosanna Arquette also took a dig at Trump, writing, “Anyone who really wants to be president and do the right thing must take this seriously.”
A 6 year old boy is dead Stephen Romero ..my heart breaks for his family. there are not enough prayers that will bring him back we must end GUN violence and anyone one who really wants to be president and do the right thing must take this seriously #GunReformNOW
— Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) July 29, 2019
Here are some of the other reactions:
6-year-old Stephen Romero was at the Gilroy Garlic Festival with his mom and grandma. His precious life is gone.
My heart aches for his family. Lawmakers who sit silent are failing in their moral obligation to protect our children. https://t.co/RBHIp0ljtl— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) July 29, 2019
Stephen Romero wasn’t in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was in the right place in a nation with the wrong gun laws. Act in his honor and the others killed and injured in the #gilroyshooting.
We have the power to fix this. Use your voices and votes.
Text ACT to 644-33. pic.twitter.com/sR7QCe81Qu— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) July 29, 2019
Why....💔🙏🏾🕊 #RIP #StephenLucianoRomero #TeamDL #gunviolence #domesticterrorism #Repost @katiecouric with get_repost
・・・
This is Stephen Luciano Romero. He was 6 years old. Last night, he was shot and killed when a… https://t.co/bYZ0PsZYsQ— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) July 29, 2019
This is horrendous. This precious 6-year-old boy was one of the victims killed at the Gilroy Garlic Festival yesterday. Stephen Romero was described as a “happy kid”. Two other people died and 12 were injured, including Stephen’s mother and grandmother. https://t.co/HojIQdiuMD pic.twitter.com/C0DeNnWjRl
— Shaun Robinson (@shaunrobinson) July 29, 2019
That’s 6 year old Stephen Romero. Shot and killed last night in the mass shooting in Gilroy, California. He was just out at a food festival with his family. Beloved by his whole family. Nothing but sweetness. Gone.
Shame on this nation for its inaction. Utterly shameful. pic.twitter.com/zqXOsWuTvu— Shaun King (@shaunking) July 29, 2019
The death of 6 year-old #StephenRomero SHOULD evoke compassionate action and moral shame. But will it?
If we can save one life with legislation, why not? Why aren’t “leaders” uniting around making parks, schools and festivals safer for children? #NonviolenceOrNonexistence— Be A King (@BerniceKing) July 29, 2019
Investigators are also looking for a second individual who has not yet been identified.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is known for its food, but the annual event also features “a few dozen country, roots and rock bands.”
Country acts Caylee Hammack, King Calaway and Waterloo Revival were among the entertainers this year.
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