Three people were hurt after a female shooter opened fire at YouTube’s US HQ in California on 3 April 2018.
Police were called to the building in San Bruno at 12:48pm local time following reports of gunfire, with officers later revealing that the suspect had killed herself.
Todd Sherman, a product manager at YouTube, tweeted that at first he thought there was an earthquake.
“We were sitting in a meeting and then we heard people running because it was rumbling the floor,” he said. “I looked down and saw blood drips on the floor and stairs. Peeked around for threats and then we headed downstairs and out the front.”
We were sitting in a meeting and then we heard people running because it was rumbling the floor. First thought was earthquake. https://t.co/gmolQmRXm1
— Todd Sherman (@tdd) April 3, 2018
A number of UK creators responded to the news as it broke, with Emma Blackery describing the situation as “awful”:
This is awful. I don’t have any words that could actually help, but I hope all on campus come out safe and unharmed, and hope that the reports of people injured are false. How heartbreaking. https://t.co/4jSmTdx5Mj
— Emma Blackery (@emmablackery) April 3, 2018
Meanwhile, Rosianna Halse Rojas wrote that she was “absolutely heartbroken” to hear about the shooting and shared a link to gun control advocacy organisations:
Absolutely heartbroken to hear about the situation @YouTube HQ. Organisations you might consider donating to: https://t.co/fVPLYuwCQ4
— rosianna halse rojas (@papertimelady) April 3, 2018
Ewan McIntosh was also amongst those discussing gun control as the incident unfolded, saying that “the solution is still so obvious” which is to “ban guns”:
THE SOLUTION IS STILL SO OBVIOUS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GUNS. BAN GU
— Ewan McIntosh (@Ewan_McIntosh) April 3, 2018
Elsewhere, Melanie Murphy said YouTube “has been a source of joy for me for a decade and my job for five years”, adding that employees at the headquarters are “essentially coworkers”:
YouTube has been a source of joy for me for a decade & my JOB for five years! This shooting at the YouTube headquarters has me feeling so upset and unnerved. The employees on the way to hospital are essentially coworkers to so many of us. Hope everyone's alright :( Fucking guns
— Melanie Murphy (@melaniietweets) April 3, 2018
Louise Pentland also took to Twitter to comment on the news and said she was “thinking of everyone at YouTube”:
I'm just staring at the news in disbelief. I'm on the other side of the world but YouTube just feels like home to me, a safe, happy place. I'm so concerned for you all out there. xxx
— Louise (@LouisePentland) April 3, 2018
YouTube’s CEO, Susan Wojcicki, later responded to the incident on Twitter and said: “There are no words to describe how horrible it was to have an active shooter at YouTube today. Our deepest gratitude to law enforcement and first responders for their rapid response. Our hearts go out to all those injured and impacted today.
“We will come together to heal as a family,” she concluded.
