Authorities are searching for whoever opened fire at an unauthorized gathering promoted through social media and attended by more than 300 people.
MORGAN HILL, CA — One person was killed and six others were injured when gunfire erupted Saturday night at a large, unauthorized party in an unincorporated area near Morgan Hill, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s deputies were sent to Hale Avenue near Miramonte Avenue at about 10:16 p.m. July 25 after callers reported intoxicated people in the road and someone throwing bottles at passing vehicles. When deputies arrived, they found hundreds of people rushing away after several shots had been fired.
Deputies located seven people who had been shot and began providing emergency aid until medical crews arrived, authorities said. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while six others were taken or otherwise treated at local hospitals. Officials had not publicly identified the person who died as of Monday.
The gathering drew more than 300 people to an open field and had been promoted through social media, investigators said. Sheriff’s officials described it as an unsanctioned event. A department spokesperson said the property owner reported being unaware that the party was taking place and had not rented the field to its organizers.
Investigators believe a handgun was used. They have described the shooting as an isolated incident, but they have not announced a motive or identified a suspect. No arrests had been reported, and detectives were working to determine whether one or more people opened fire.
Law enforcement officers from Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Jose assisted sheriff’s deputies at the scene, along with the California Highway Patrol. Their work included emergency aid, traffic control, crowd management, scene security and support for the homicide investigation.
Authorities also created a relocation area for people who came to the scene looking for relatives or friends who had attended the party. The large crowd and the rapid departure of vehicles complicated the initial response and left investigators with a broad area to examine for evidence.
Sheriff Robert Jonsen called the violence unacceptable and expressed sympathy for the victim’s family, the injured people and others affected by the shooting. He said detectives would continue working to identify and arrest those responsible.
Officials said all seven people who were shot were adults. At least two of the injured victims had been released from the hospital by Sunday afternoon, according to information provided during a sheriff’s news conference. The conditions of the other injured people were not immediately released.
The Sheriff’s Office said the homicide inquiry is expected to be lengthy and complex. Detectives are reviewing leads and seeking recordings from the gathering as they work to identify the shooter or shooters. Additional details are expected to be released as the investigation develops.
Author note: Last updated July 27, 2026.