How did San Jose shooter Samuel Cassidy get guns, explosives? Bomb-making materials found in locker

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said Cassidy's locker had 'materials for bombs, detonator cords, the precursors to an explosive'

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: , a 57-year-old employee of the Valley Transportation Authority, opened fire on Wednesday morning, May 26, at a public transit rail yard at the Santa Clara VTA light rail hub, killing at least eight co-workers and wounding others. Following the rampage, he ended his own life. New evidence has come into the light now that shows this attack was in the works for a long time.

As per reports, law enforcement agencies swept the transportation building for explosives after a bomb-sniffing dog alerted authorities to the presence of explosives at the building. At the same time, authorities were investigating two fires that erupted around the same time and place as the shooting, including at home.

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His described him as having "two sides," and having anger issues. , who was married to Cassidy for about a decade before they filed for divorce in 2005, told reporters that he often was angry at coworkers and about his assignments at work. "He had two sides," Nelms said. "When he was in a good mood he was a great guy. When he was mad, he was mad."

Another woman who dated Cassidy reportedly filed a restraining order against him in 2009, accusing him of rape and sexual assault. She also alleged that Cassidy had severe mood swings and suffered from alcohol abuse. 

How did Samuel Cassidy obtain guns and explosives?

Cassidy reportedly fired 39 shots during his rampage through two buildings at the sprawling VTA hub. Sheriff’s Deputy Russell Davis said that Cassidy had three semi-automatic 9mm handguns along with 32 high-capacity magazines loaded with additional ammunition. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said that he told at least one person: “I’m not going to shoot you” during the attack. The gunman then shot other people before he shot himself as deputies closed in.

Law enforcement authorities found an assortment of what appeared to be bomb-making materials in Cassidy's locker. Smith said that Cassidy's locker had “materials for bombs, detonator cords, the precursors to an explosive.” The Sheriff's Office, however, said later that the contents of the locker were not dangerous. No actual explosive devices were discovered. 

As per a , in 2016, Cassidy was stopped on a trip back from the Philippines by US Customs and Border Protection. A Department of Homeland Security memo from the stop said that an officer found Cassidy had "books about terrorism and fear and manifestos ... as well as a black memo book filled with lots of notes about how he hates the VTA." It also noted that the gunman had a "minor criminal history" and cited a 1983 incident where he was arrested in San Jose and charged with "misdemeanor obstruction/resisting a peace officer."

While it is illegal to buy magazines that hold more than ten rounds in California, a news report noted that if Cassidy had obtained them before January 1, 2000, he would be allowed to have them unless he was otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms. Authorities have yet to say when and how Cassidy obtained the firearms -- and if it was done legally. 

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