A woman shot four people at YouTube’s San Bruno, California headquarters Tuesday afternoon before taking her own life. San Bruno Police Department identified the suspected shooter as 39-year-old Nasim Aghdam of San Diego, California, and confirmed that she died of a self-inflicted gunshot from a handgun.
The suspected shooter in today’s YouTube incident has been identified. Please see press release for details – https://t.co/Xvr2l9bB9s pic.twitter.com/NEBoX3WWK5
— San Bruno Police (@SanBrunoPolice) April 4, 2018
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital spokesman Brent Andrew said the hospital received three people with gunshot wounds from the attack. The Los Angeles Times reported the victims included a 32-year-old woman in serious condition, a 27-year-old woman in fair condition, and a 36-year-old man in critical condition. A fourth person was transported to the hospital after injuring her ankle escaping the scene. The names of the injured have not been released.
Reports suggest the suspect had no direct connection with the company but was an active vlogger who posted her own videos on YouTube. In a video posted in January 2017, Aghdam complained that YouTube had placed what she believed to be unfair restrictions on her content that led to a drastic fall in the number of views. She also posted complaints about the platform on Facebook as well as on her website.
How events unfolded
Reports of an active shooter at YouTube’s headquarters started just before 1 p.m. local time, April 3, 2018.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office told CBS News at the time it was treating the situation as an “active shooter incident” with no further details.
The San Bruno Police said it received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting gunshots at 12:46 p.m. Officers arrived at the scene at 12:48 p.m., immediately entered the building and found one victim with an apparent gunshot wound. Police also found two more gunshot victims who had fled to a nearby business.
At 1:01 p.m., the San Bruno Police Department tweeted “Police activity at 901 Cherry Ave. please stay out of the area.” That address is YouTube HQ.
Police activity at 901 Cherry Ave, please stay out of the area. pic.twitter.com/H6iAj0g7ra
— San Bruno Police (@SanBrunoPolice) April 3, 2018
YouTube employee Vadim Lavrusik tweeted “Active shooter at YouTube HQ. Heard shots and saw running while at my desk. Now barricaded inside a room with coworkers.”
Active shooter at YouTube HQ. Heard shots and saw people running while at my desk. Now barricaded inside a room with coworkers.
— Vadim Lavrusik (@Lavrusik) April 3, 2018
Less than 20 minutes later, Lavrusik followed up that he had been evacuated from the building: ” Safe. Got evacuated it (sic). Outside now.”
Safe. Got evacuated it. Outside now.
— Vadim Lavrusik (@Lavrusik) April 3, 2018
At 1:30 p.m. Google Communications messaged: “Re: YouTube situation, we are coordinating with authorities and will provide official information here from Google and YouTube as it becomes available.”
Re: YouTube situation, we are coordinating with authorities and will provide official information here from Google and YouTube as it becomes available.
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) April 3, 2018
Initial reports indicated several people had been injured, but that there were no reports of fatalities. CBS later reported the San Mateo County Coroner had been called to the site, suggesting that there were fatalities.
Police SWAT vehicles surrounded the campus. CBS reported that police patted down employees as they evacuated the campus. The employees were then moved to a parking lot surrounded by police cars.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office tweeted at 2:16 p.m.: “In regards to active shooter situation at YouTube HQ; San Bruno Police Chief Barberini will be making a statement at 2:30 pm. Media staging area is at the corner of Traeger Ave. at Bayhill Dr. in San Bruno.”
In regards to active shooter situation at YouTube HQ; San Bruno Police Chief Barberini will be making a statement at 2:30pm. Media staging area is at the corner of Traeger Ave. at Bayhill Dr. in San Bruno.
— San Mateo County Sheriff's Office (@SMCSheriff) April 3, 2018
In his 2:30 p.m. statement, San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said a female suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Chief also said four people were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds.
The YouTube HQ is close to the San Francisco Airport, about 12 miles south of San Francisco.
The San Francisco Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was reported to be responding to the scene.
President Trump was briefed on the shooting, according to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, who also said they were “monitoring the ongoing situation.”
At 2:49 p.m. President Trump tweeted: “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.”
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
Updated on April 4: Added details about victim injuries.
