Witnesses describe 'scary' YouTube shooting

Katie Marzullo Image
ByKatie Marzullo KGO logo
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Witnesses describe 'scary' YouTube shooting
ABC7 News sources confirm the YouTube shooter was a user of the platform. Nasim Aghdam has an alleged website with a manifesto that targets YouTube for censorship and demonetization of her video content.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (KGO) -- Despite the shock of it all, people who work near YouTube headquarters didn't hesitate to help when shots rang out Tuesday afternoon. They found themselves suddenly surrounded by terrified employees, some of them bleeding.

"It's very scary," said Carl's Junior employee Bianca Ramirez. "We never saw that happen, something close to us. It's really scary."

RELATED: Sources say YouTube shooter identified as user Nasim Aghdam

YouTube employees ran for their lives. Some found safety inside a Carl's Junior just off campus.

"Got the girl, walked her inside, put her inside the Carl's Junior side door. We put her in there, grabbed a bunch of napkins," said Good Samaritan Jesse Pineda.

A worker at nearby Hashes and Brews also took in the walking wounded. "(She) was shot on her lower ankle, put them in the restaurant, gave them towels and band-aids and tried to calm them down," said "Denny."

It was chaos on YouTube when shots were heard. An employee, who did not want to be identified, told ABC7 News after the gunfire, he heard screaming and saw people running.

RELATED: 1 dead, 4 injured in shooting at YouTube HQ in San Bruno

He says he ran toward the nearest exit which turned out to be toward the shooter. A co-worker, bleeding from her chin, ran toward him shouting, "She's behind us."

Together, they took off in the opposite direction and barricaded themselves in a conference room.

"I think for the residents of San Bruno, this has got to be a nerve-wracking additional experience," said San Bruno City Manager Connie Jackson.

She referenced the deadly PG&E pipeline explosion as the first experience. She said the community needs to stay strong.

"To prepare and be able to respond to even the most unimaginable situations," said Jackson.

Those involved still can't believe the situation happened near them.

Click here for full coverage on the YouTube shooting in San Bruno.