San Jose Shooting Suspect Under Investigation For Racist Remarks

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story citing a report from NBC Bay Area said Samuel Cassidy was facing a disciplinary hearing on the day of the shooting. The VTA has since confirmed there was no hearing planned for Wednesday, May 26. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 also issued a statement.

SAN JOSE, CA — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employee who shot and killed nine people Wednesday at a light rail yard in San Jose before killing himself was under investigation for inappropriate behavior that included making racist remarks to colleagues, according to a report.

On Thursday, the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office confirmed the shooter was 57-year-old Samuel Cassidy, a VTA employee who was identified in several earlier media reports.

Cassidy reportedly fired 39 shots at the VTA Guadalupe facility on West Younger Avenue, killing multiple people before turning the gun on himself.

Cassidy fired shots in two buildings, officials said, and authorities found three semi-automatic handguns and 32 magazines full of ammunition in his possession. There also were bomb materials found in his work locker, officials said.

While police are still working to determine a possible motive behind Wednesday's killings, an investigation by NBC Bay Area found that Cassidy was under investigation for reportedly making inappropriate racial remarks to coworkers while on the job as a station maintenance worker. He also bragged to co-workers about having guns and explosives, the report said.

On Thursday, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office issued a statement saying it had reason to believe Cassidy was a "highly disgruntled VTA employee."

Cassidy reportedly was also known by federal authorities prior to Wednesday's attack.

In 2016, U.S. Customs officials had detained and questioned Cassidy when they found on him books about terrorism and a notebook with notes detailing his hatred for his employer, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Journal wasn't able to confirm whether the findings were shared with VTA officials.

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