One person was killed and another was left critically injured after a shooting at San Pedro Square, a popular entertainment district in San Jose, California, on Sunday, authorities said.
The shooting occurred at a venue that has been serving as a FIFA World Cup fan zone during the ongoing tournament. However, police clarified that no World Cup match was being shown when the incident happened, as the day’s only fixture had ended at about 2 p.m. local time.
According to the San Jose Police Department, officers responded to reports of gunfire at San Pedro Square and discovered two victims upon arrival.
“One victim was pronounced deceased on scene. The second victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries,” the department said in a post on X.
Authorities have since opened a homicide investigation into the incident. Several streets surrounding San Pedro Square were closed as investigators examined the crime scene and gathered evidence.
San Pedro Square is among several official World Cup fan zones established across the San Francisco Bay Area, attracting thousands of football supporters throughout the tournament to watch matches on large outdoor screens.
The Bay Area has already staged five FIFA World Cup matches, with the most recent fixture taking place on Wednesday when Bosnia faced co-hosts the United States in a knockout-round encounter.
Witnesses reported a significant police presence following the shooting, with multiple patrol vehicles and emergency personnel arriving at the scene. A Reuters journalist observed paramedics transporting one of the victims on a stretcher while officers secured the area with police tape.
A security guard who witnessed the aftermath said the surviving victim appeared to have suffered serious injuries.
“The person was still moaning and groaning. There was blood around his neck and upper back,” she said, adding that officers were speaking with security personnel and witnesses.
Police have not announced any arrests or disclosed a possible motive for the shooting as investigations continue.
