At least three people sustained injuries when a woman opened fire inside Google’s YouTube headquarters in the US before fatally shooting herself. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon according to local US time.
The condition of one of the injured persons is stated to be “critical”.
YouTube headquarters is located at 901 Cherry Avenue in San Bruno, 19 km from San Francisco, in the US state of California.
“We did locate a victim with what we believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Ed Barberini, chief of San Bruno city police, has been quoted as saying in an IANS report. He said investigation was still going on “before we can put all the pieces together”.
The injured were sent to a local hospital where the condition of one person is stated to be “serious” and that of another is “critical”.
“We have a 32-year-old female who is in serious condition, a 27-year-old female in fair condition, and a 36-year-old male in critical condition,” the IANS report quoted Brent Andrew, spokesman for Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, as telling KPIX 5 TV.
Google, the parent company of YouTube, issued a statement, which said: “We continue to actively coordinate with local authorities and hospitals. Our security team has been working closely with authorities to evacuate the buildings and ensure the safety of employees in the area.”
“The best information we have is that the situation is contained. We are very actively monitoring and working with local authorities and hospitals. It’s with great sadness that I tell you — based on the latest information — four people were injured in this horrific act of violence. We’re doing everything we can to support them and their families at this time,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the statement.
Here is the note that @sundarpichai just sent to Googlers worldwide. pic.twitter.com/bdC6KeTl9c
— Google Communications (@Google_Comms) April 3, 2018
He also wrote a post on Twitter: “There are no words to describe the tragedy that occurred today. @SusanWojcicki & I are focused on supporting our employees & the @YouTube community through this difficult time together. Thank you to the police & first responders for their efforts, and to all for msgs of support.”
There are no words to describe the tragedy that occurred today. @SusanWojcicki & I are focused on supporting our employees & the @YouTube community through this difficult time together. Thank you to the police & first responders for their efforts, and to all for msgs of support.
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) April 3, 2018
The shooting apparently took place in an outdoor cafe at the YouTube campus which houses at least 1,700 employees. A significant number of Indian-American professionals work at the YouTube headquarters near Silicon Valley.
YouTube CEO SusanWojcicki too took to Twitter to share her response. “There are no words to describe how horrible it was to have an active shooter @YouTube today. Our deepest gratitude to law enforcement & first responders for their rapid response. Our hearts go out to all those injured & impacted today. We will come together to heal as a family,” she posted.
There are no words to describe how horrible it was to have an active shooter @YouTube today. Our deepest gratitude to law enforcement & first responders for their rapid response. Our hearts go out to all those injured & impacted today. We will come together to heal as a family.
— Susan Wojcicki (@SusanWojcicki) April 4, 2018
US President Donald Trump tweeted that he had been briefed on the shooting.
“Was just briefed on the shooting at YouTube’s HQ in San Bruno, California. Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody involved,” he tweeted.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody involved. Thank you to our phenomenal Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders that are currently on the scene,” he added.
Was just briefed on the shooting at YouTube’s HQ in San Bruno, California. Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody involved. Thank you to our phenomenal Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders that are currently on the scene.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 3, 2018
According to reports, the San Bruno police department received the first 911 call at 12.46 pm (local time) reporting gunfire at the YouTube campus, and arrived on the scene at 12:48 pm to find employees fleeing the building.
At 12:53 pm, local reports said, a deceased female was located inside with a gunshot wound, possibly self-inflicted.
“We have one subject who is deceased inside the building with a self-inflicted wound at this time, (who) we believe to be the shooter,” Barberini told reporters at a news conference outside YouTube headquarters.
Google, in a tweet, advised all other employees in the Bay Area, and people with meetings scheduled, to stay away from the area.
In another tweet, it said the company was coordinating with authorities.
“Re: YouTube situation, we are coordinating with authorities and will provide official information here from Google and YouTube as it becomes available,” Google Communications tweeted.
“We advised all other employees in the Bay Area, and people with meetings scheduled, to stay away from the area, and that there is no need to take any action. We have provided employees a helpline,” it added.
We advised all other employees in the Bay Area, and people with meetings scheduled, to stay away from the area, and that there is no need to take any action. We have provided employees a helpline.
— Google Communications (@Google_Comms) April 3, 2018
A law-enforcement source told the Bay Area News Group that the shooting appeared to have been fuelled by a domestic dispute and that the suspect was targeting her boyfriend.
Apple CEO Tim Cook sent his sympathies to the victims.
“From everyone at Apple, we send our sympathy and support to the team at YouTube and Google, especially the victims and their families,” Cook tweeted.
From everyone at Apple, we send our sympathy and support to the team at YouTube and Google, especially the victims and their families.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 3, 2018
YouTube headquarters is located some 50 km from the main Google campus in Mountain View.