Feds never alerted authorities about Samuel Cassidy’s manifestos in 2016: report

In 2016, federal officials detained the San Jose man accused of killing nine of his colleagues last week, finding him with books on terrorism and detailed writings about how much he hated the people at his work — but nobody bothered to alert local authorities, according to reports.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen told USA Today Friday the intel might have helped prevent the mass attack by Samuel Cassidy Wednesday that resulted in the deaths of nine employees at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail hub.

“The DA’s office was not notified,” Rosen said, adding he wasn’t aware of a single agency in the area that was told this information. “I would like to have known this in 2016.”

Cassidy was stopped on a trip back from the Philippines in 2016 by US Customs and Border Protection.

A Department of Homeland Security memo from the stop, which was obtained by The Wall Street Journal, states 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.”

Samuel Cassidy
Alleged gunman Samuel Cassidy’s writings suggest he hated his co-workers at VTA Light Rail Facility in San Jose, California.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office via AP
Alleged shooter Samuel Cassidy is captured in CCTV footage walking across a rail depot at San Jose’s VTA Light Rail Facility on May 26, 2021.
Alleged shooter Samuel Cassidy is captured in CCTV footage walking across a rail depot at San Jose’s VTA Light Rail Facility on May 26, 2021.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office/Handout via REUTERS

The memo doesn’t say why Cassidy was stopped.

Cassidy, 57, gunned down nine railyard workers at his job with semi-automatic handguns before killing himself on Wednesday morning. The disgruntled Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employee reportedly went from “building to building” slaughtering coworkers.

His home was later found on fire, sparking an investigation into whether he set it ablaze himself.

Local cops worked with the FBI and ATF to seize the weapons from Cassidy’s three-bedroom home at around 6:30 pm Wednesday.

Authorities discovered 25,000 rounds of ammunition at alleged gunman Samuel Cassidy’s home in San Jose, California.
Authorities discovered 25,000 rounds of ammunition at alleged gunman Samuel Cassidy’s home in San Jose, California.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office via AP
Members of Paul Megia’s family mourn at a memorial vigil in San Jose, California on May 27, 2021. Paul Megia was among the nine VTA transit workers killed.
Members of Paul Megia’s family mourn at a memorial vigil in San Jose, California on May 27, 2021. Paul Megia was among the nine VTA transit workers killed.
Terry Schmitt/UPI

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