Victims of 2019 Garlic Festival Mass Shooting Can Still Apply for Compensation

Victims of the deadly 2019 shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival have one year remaining to apply for financial assistance from the California Victim Compensation Board.

“We were heartened by the return of the Gilroy Garlic Festival this year,” said the board’s CEO Lynda Gledhill. “As this community continues to heal, we want to ensure victims know it’s not too late to apply for financial assistance that can help in their ongoing recovery.”

Three festivalgoers were killed, 17 were injured and hundreds traumatized in the July 28, 2019 shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival at Christmas Hill Park. The lone teen shooter killed himself just before he was shot by police near festival food stands.

Victims and their family members still may qualify for up to $70,000 in financial reimbursement to assist with mental health treatment, medical bills, home security improvements and other expenses, the compensation board said in a press release.

Victims can apply online at online.victims.ca.gov/ or through a Victim Witness Assistance Center in their county. To find an assistance center, visit tinyurl.com/5p623btn.

As of June 30, CalVCB has approved 562 applications for compensation related to the 2019 shooting.

Garlic Festival victims may also receive help from the Mariposas Resiliency Center in downtown Gilroy. This organization—formerly called the Gilroy Strong Resiliency Center—was established in 2020 to provide long-term support for survivors, first responders and other community members impacted by the Gilroy Garlic Festival mass shooting.

The Mariposas Resiliency Center recently received a $2.1 million grant from the state compensation board to continue to provide trauma-informed mental health treatment to crime victims through at least June 2027, says the press release. To contact the Mariposas Resiliency Center, call 408-209-8356.

 

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