Jose Pinon, 40, of Gilroy posted Wednesday on Facebook that “my goal is to kill 500, not three," police said, in a reference believed to be to the shooting at the Northern California Gilroy Garlic food festival that killed three people July 28. [8/5/19]https://t.co/AGK89kCXfv— Global Awareness 101 (@Mononoke__Hime) August 6, 2019
I'm sharing this news so people know the consequences of making these kinds of threats. You think you're being funny expressing your anger in this manner. It's not a joke to threaten peoples lives. This is criminal. He may even face prison time if found guilty. (emphasis mine)Los Angeles Times
written by AP staff writer
Monday August 5, 2019
Police arrested a man after he made threats online that apparently referenced the deadly shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, authorities said.
Jose Pinon of Gilroy posted Wednesday on Facebook that “my goal is to kill 500, not three,"police said, in a reference believed to be to the shooting at the Northern California food festival that killed three people July 28.
Gilroy Police Capt. Joseph Deras said officials did not seize any weapons from Pinon’s home Thursday and did not believe he was planning an attack.
Pinon, 40, is charged with making criminal threats, which is a felony, and violating a domestic-violence-related restraining order, which is a misdemeanor, Deras said. He was in jail Friday on $30,000 bail.
It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Authorities say they don’t know what prompted gunman Santino William Legan to open fire at the festival. Legan was killed during a gunfight with three police officers within a minute.
Pinon’s comments on a Gilroy neighborhood watch page alarmed other members of the online group, some of whom told police they had canceled plans, like attending a vigil to honor the victims, because they were afraid.
Another man, whom police did not identify, posted on Facebook soon after the shooting that he had participated — prompting a SWAT response to his Gilroy home. Authorities believed he might have been a second shooter.
Some witnesses had reported seeing another person with Legan, but officials said their investigation had not shown that anyone else was involved.
The 22-year-old man was arrested on unrelated warrants, but police did not charge him in connection with his Facebook post, Deras said.
“We don’t think he had any criminal intent,” Deras said. “It was just ignorance.”
The man later asked for police protection because others had found out about his post. Deras said his request was not granted.
CLICK LINK BELOW to watch the news reporting about this incident. They don't allow me to embed their video to my website. I couldn't find any news video on YouTube or anywhere else for that matter about this incident. As a side note, while I was looking for video of this incident I came across loads of crime in Salina, CA. Wow. There is major crime happening in Salinas, CA. (emphasis mine)
KION News channel 5
written by Barry Brown and Ashley Keehn
Friday August 2, 2019
SALINAS, Calif. - UPDATE: Gilroy police have arrested a man for allegedly posting online threats related to the Garlic Festival shooting.
Police say Jose Pinon, 40, posted threats on Facebook, referencing the number of persons killed at the festival on Sunday July 28, 2019. Police said Pinon also violated a restraining order with other comments made on social media.
He was arrested Thursday for making criminal threats and violation of a restraining order.
"In this particular case at this particular time a reference to killing 500 people at the recent event that we had Gilroy Garlic festival is inappropriate, but as it might be inappropriate it’s not necessarily unlawful. But when you combined that with some of the other comments he made directed at a former spouse, the totality of that rises to criminal activity,” said Capt. Joseph Deras with Gilroy Police Department.
Before making the arrest police also spoke with several others who were involved with the comments being made.
"The people we contacted who were women said they were so fearful of these comments that they canceled trips to the local theme parks we have in town, for the threat that they had read they were afraid something might happen. Another person indicated they weren’t going to attend the vigil we had last night in town and that they weren’t even going to let there kids play outside,” said Capt. Deras.
The Monterey County District Attorney's office said there is a fine line between freedom of speech and criminal threats.
"You cross the line when you threaten either great bodily injury or to kill someone and if someone is put in sustained fear because of that threat and if that sustained threat is reasonable. If you’ve done all three of those you’ve committed a crime,” said Chief Assistant D.A. Berkley Brannon.
Brannon added criminal threats can be charged as a felony and if found guilty Pinon could face three years in state prison.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office is handling the case, but could not comment because offical charges have not been filed yet.
PREVIOUS STORY:
Gilroy police have arrested a man for allegedly posting online threats related to the Garlic Festival shooting.
Police say Jose Pinon, 40, posted threats on Facebook, referencing the number of persons killed at the festival on Sunday July 28, 2019.
They arrested Pinon Thursday morning for an unrelated restraining order violation and making online treats.
UPDATE 8/24/19 at 7:08pm: Added tweets below.
Just concluded a very good meeting on preventing Mass Shootings. Talks are ongoing w/ both Republicans & Democrats. We are likewise engaging with lawful gun owners, survivors, grieving family members, law enforcement, the NRA, mental health professionals, and school officials...— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2019
...I am hopeful Congress will engage with my Team to pass meaningful legislation that will make a real difference and, most importantly, Save Lives!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2019
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