Jeff Heinzen grew up in Gilroy and moved to Reno in 2003. The 40-year-old husband and father rarely misses the Gilroy Garlic Festival, and it was no different this year. After spending the weekend at the festival, he and his family headed home, Sunday afternoon. They were driving back to Reno when they heard about the shooting that killed three people and injured a dozen more.

"It's upsetting, for sure, that people can get that angry and feel that that's the way that they're going to make things better, harming innocent people," Heinzen said.

His first thoughts were about his family and friends who had been at the annual event.

"It was kind of heartbreaking," Heinzen said. "You think about who you knew there. Was my family there? Friends? Is everybody okay? We left my dad there, who was volunteering, helping out, doing various things there, so I didn't know if he was home yet. Then we have a lot of friends that work various booths or just volunteer. We even have some friends that were Gilroy PD officers, so we were worried about that."

Luckily, his friends and family were unharmed. Officials say police officers shot and killed Santino Legan, about one minute after he opened fire at the festival, using a semi-automatic rifle.

"I'd be surprised if it took a lot longer than 30 seconds for them to get there," Heinzen said. "There were officers everywhere. They did an amazing job. They had standard issue handguns and they confronted an individual with an assault rifle."

Heinzen says he did not know Legan or his family. He says he feels for all of the victims involved, including the Legan family.

"This individual obviously was troubled," Heinzen said. "You think about his family. They lost their son."

The Gilroy Garlic Festival started in 1979. It is the city's largest fundraiser, raising money for nonprofit groups, clubs and schools.

"You volunteer through your football team, your wrestling team, baseball, 4H Club, whatever you're in, church groups," Heinzen said. "As kids, you volunteer and you work the festival."

He says it is hard to understand why someone from his hometown would do something so violent. Especially, at an event like the Garlic Festival. 

"This individual had undoubtedly benefited in some way from the festival being in Gilroy, whether he knew it or not," Heinzen said.

Heinzen says he will to take his family to the Gilroy Garlic Festival, as well as special events in northern Nevada including Hot August Nights, The Rib Cook-off and the Reno Rodeo. He says he will have a backup plan in place from now on, though.

"If an emergency happens, go into a crowded situation with a plan," Heinzen said. "If we're separated, where are we going to meet?"

The vendors on-hand all had to evacuate, shortly after the shooting for the investigation to begin. He says they have not been able to return to get their belongings yet. He says various organizations are helping the vendors from out-of-town. 

The city of Gilroy is trying to pick up the pieces after the attack. Life will never be the same for some residents, but Heinzen is is hoping those affected will find some solace.

"It's gonna be a long road for the community but more so for the families that were affected," Heinzen said. "I just feel terrible for them."