YouTube headquarters shooting: Silicon Valley leaders call for stringent gun control
YouTube shooting
The shooting was the latest in an epidemic of mass killings that have plagued the United States in recent years
Several Silicon Valley leaders called for increased gun control on Tuesday afternoon after a woman at the headquarters of YouTube shot and wounded three people before taking her own life.
Tech companies have largely avoided the topic of gun control in the United States, but they have previously pushed for progressive stances on other hot-topic issues, ranging from climate change to same-sex marriage and comprehensive immigration reform. At least three major chief executives took up gun control after the shooting.
“We can’t keep being reactive to this, thinking and praying it won’t happen again at our schools, jobs, or our community spots,” tweeted Twitter Inc and Square Inc CEO Jack Dorsey. “It’s beyond time to evolve our policies.”
Joining Dorsey were Uber Technologies Inc CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Box Inc CEO Aaron Levie, who respectively sent tweets on Tuesday saying #EndGunViolence and #NeverAgain, two Twitter hashtags commonly used by proponents of gun control.
“On behalf of the team at @Uber, sending support to everyone @YouTube and @Google, and gratitude to the heroic first responders,” Khosrowshahi tweeted. “Another tragedy that should push us again to #EndGunViolence”
Sundar Pichai and Susan Wojcicki, the CEOs of Google and YouTube respectively, also issued statements on Tuesday while avoiding the topic of gun control.
A woman opened fire at YouTube's headquarters near San Francisco on Tuesday. Three people were reported wounded after which the woman shot herself.
No further information about the woman, or her motives, was released by the police, however, senior law enforcement officials believe the motive behind the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute, MSNBC and other media reported. Any possible links to terrorism have been ruled out by the local police.
The suspect is believed to be in her 30s. According to reports, she approached an outdoor patio and dining area on the YouTube campus around lunchtime and began to fire, before turning the gun on herself.
According to San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini, the weapon used in the shooting was a handgun.
One of the victims, a 36-year-old man, was critically injured and was admitted to the San Francisco General Hospital. Another victim, a 32-year-old woman, was listed in serious condition and a 27-year-old woman was injured but was in fair condition. Authorities did not release names of the victims.
All three people were victims of gunshot wounds; none of them had undergone surgery. A fourth person was taken to a local hospital with an ankle injury from fleeing the scene.
US President Donald Trump condemned the incident and offered his prayers to those involved.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody involved,” Trump tweeted. “Thank you to our phenomenal Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders that are currently on the scene.”
Google said on Twitter that it was coordinating with local authorities.
Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey tweeted: "We can’t keep being reactive to this, thinking and praying it won’t happen again at our schools, jobs, or our community spots. It’s beyond time to evolve our policies."
Google CEO Sundar Pichai released an official statement stating that the situation is "contained".
"We are doing everything we can to support them (the victims) and their families at this time. I am grateful to everyone inside and outside the company for the outpouring of support and best wishes. I am especially thankful to the first responders and our own security team who acted so quickly to keep people safe," read the statement.
The shooting was the latest in an epidemic of mass killings that have plagued the United States in recent years. Most recently, the massacre of 17 people at a Florida high school has led to calls for tighter restrictions on gun ownership.
Last month, YouTube announced it would ban content promoting the sale of guns and gun accessories as well as videos that teach how to make guns.
(With inputs from Reuters)