Eight people were shot dead at a rail yard as the suspected gunman's home burnt down.
The horrific shooting took place at a rail yard in San Jose, California, this morning, with a ninth victim in a critical condition and fighting for life.
Police sources have identified Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority worker Samuel Cassidy, 57, as the suspected gunman amid reports that the incident was sparked by a 'workplace issue'.
A huge fire broke out at Cassidy's home at the same time as the shooting and the authorities reportedly believe he started the blaze.
The dead gunman is suspected of having turned his gun on himself after carrying out the massacre. None of the victims have yet been named.
Cassidy's court records show he allegedly told an ex-girlfriend on Valentine’s Day 2009 that he would break up with her unless she engaged in a sex act with him, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The 45-year-old woman alleged Cassidy sexually assaulted her and had alcohol-fuelled mood swings, linked to his bipolar disorder, in a written declaration that she filed after Cassidy applied for a domestic violence restraining order.
The maintenance worker's 88-year-old father James Edward Cassidy, today told the Daily Beast he was in complete shock after the mass shooting.
Cassidy's dad said his son appeared to be 'completely himself' over the past few days.
"He didn’t talk about his job or politics. I just found out he was dead and his house on fire and all that a minute ago,” he said.
"It’s really.... I really, really don’t want to... I guess I have to just kind of absorb it all myself. I don’t really have any information anyway, so... sorry. ”
It is believed the 57-year-old opened fire on his colleagues during a union meeting.
Cassidy worked for the VTA since at least 2012, when he was listed as an "electro-mechanic," and was promoted to "substation maintainer" in 2015, according to records.
Last year, he earned a salary equivalent to £72,000 plus benefits and £14,000 in overtime.
Local television station KTVU-TV reported that Cassidy had been married for 10 years and divorced in 2019, citing an interview with his ex-wife.
She reportedly told the station she had little contact with him over the past decade.
Police found an explosive device at the rail yard today, prompting a bomb squad to search the scene.
Multiple fire department, police and bomb squad vehicles also descended on the suspect's home in San Jose.
An explosives-detecting robot sat in the street near the home while two bomb squad technicians entered the ranch-style house.
.png?w=600)
