Hollister residents are talking a lot these days about the John
Patrick Bedell shooting at the Pentagon. The 36-year-old Hollister
resident on Thursday opened fire outside the Pentagon using a 9mm
handgun and died from return gunfire.
Hollister residents are talking a lot these days about the John Patrick Bedell shooting at the Pentagon. The 36-year-old Hollister resident on Thursday opened fire outside the Pentagon using a 9mm handgun and died from return gunfire in the exchange.
The following are thoughts from some residents who were downtown this afternoon:
Said Kevin Silva, of Hollister: “He actually lived down the street from me. We used to hang out for a while. … He was all right. He was a nice guy at the time. His parents were always really nice. We just hung around and messed around. It was only for a while. Then we moved. That was the last I saw him. He always seemed like a normal kid. I was surprised to see he was a killer, or attempted killer.”
Said Jack Kidder, of Grass Valley: “I had a 17-year-old son who developed those symptoms. He died when he was 34, lived a very difficult life for 17 years, in and out of halfway houses. We ran into the same kind of difficulty as a parent seeking to get help for him. And I think that circumstance, I can empathize with the parents of this young man.”
Said Eric Muller, of Hollister: “It’s a shame. I don’t know what to tell you about Hollister. I moved here about a month ago. I think it’s a shame. I think it’s hurt a lot of people locally. I live in an apartment building with a lot of elderly people. Some of them know who the person is.”
Said Vanora Porteur, of Hollister: “It’s sad. They’re a nice family. Some people just snap. You don’t know why. There’s been others that did the same thing in the past. His dad was at San Benito Bank. My husband that’s deceased was there. It’s just kind of pretty sad. I feel for the family.”
– Kollin Kosmicki
Related stories:
Media puts spotlight on Hollister
SBHS: Shooter attended school but left before graduating
Family was trying to get help for Pentagon shooting suspect
Childhood peer recalls gatherings with suspect and family
Bedell’s family releases statement: ‘We may never know why he made this terrible decision’
Apparent online presence shows suspect’s distrust of government
Updated: Suspected Pentagon gunman was from Hollister; recently attended SJ State
