Police are now responding to multiple 911 calls at YouTube HQ regarding an active shooter on the premises in San Bruno, CA. Vladim Lavrusik, a product manager at the company, broke the news to the public with a recent tweet that there’s an active shooter. The San Bruno Police Department is currently instructing people to stay away from 901 Cherry Avenue, where the company is located. Many employees are currently fleeing the scene, and the police are currently evaluating the situation.
https://twitter.com/tdd/status/981262640830754817
As mentioned above, many people are running out of their meetings due to a loud noise, and when they got to the entrance they were informed that an active shooter was in YouTube HQ with a gun. Todd Sherman continued on and stated that he saw blood on the floor and the stairs, and it’s currently unknown as to whether there was a victim or if the active shooter committed suicide.
When contacted for more information, The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office informed CBS news that they were treating the situation at the YouTube HQ as an “active shooter incident” but were unable to provide any more details at this time. YouTube employees are still evacuating the area, and social media is astorm with people trying to find out more information about the emergency. Vladim Lavrusik has tweeted that there are still workers in the building that may be in danger, and that multiple people are barricaded inside meeting areas.
Active shooter at YouTube HQ. Heard shots and saw people running while at my desk. Now barricaded inside a room with coworkers.
— Vadim Lavrusik (@Lavrusik) April 3, 2018
In a recent interview with local news station KRON 5, a witness has reported that they heard roughly 20 shots fired, which adds credence to the thought that there may be victims rather than this being a situation of a shooter committing suicide.
The YouTube HQ is in a busy area of San Bruno, and near the San Fransisco airport. Unlike the Google Campus located in Mountain View, it is a building right on the street with a main lobby that is relatively accessible. While the building does have security, there are a number of visitors that make trips to YouTube HQ as visitors. It is unclear at this time as to whether the shooter was an employee or someone unrelated who walked into the building off the street.
A recent tweet from the Twitter account Press Release Watch, included below, shows Police en route to the emergency. The twitter account confirms that one suspect is down and that the weapon has been recovered. It’s unclear at this time whether there are more people involved than the one active shooter at YouTube HQ, but police are currently searching the area.
#Breakingnews : Firing reported near @YouTube HQ in San Bruno, CA;One suspect is DOWN, weapon recovered. Police is searching for additional suspects pic.twitter.com/qYT5Xzniaf
— Press Release Watch (@PrReleaseWatch) April 3, 2018
The video below shows footage of YouTube employees streaming out of YouTube HQ as police search for the active shooter. The workers raise their arms above their head to indicate that they are a victim and unarmed rather than a danger to those around them.
Snap Maps footage coming out of the YouTube HQ shooting. Crazy. Stay safe, tech. pic.twitter.com/v8F7ycotxw
— Daniel Sinclair (@_DanielSinclair) April 3, 2018
Twitter user Will Hudson reports that he had been texting with a friend who was at YouTube HQ, who reported that the fire alarm went off and people were told to evacuate. Further texts now seem to confirm the active shooter may have been female. Google Employees are currently updating each other in a group chat as everyone tries to figure out more information about the active shooter.
https://twitter.com/MrWillToLive/status/981260734305918978
https://twitter.com/MrWillToLive/status/981264481245454339
Google has now tweeted out a statement that they’re cooperating with authorities in any way possible, and that they will provide more updates as they have more information and receive authorization from the police that are taking care of the situation. The company has also updated their search engine with an SOS alert and a Google Maps feature that shows the affected area, giving a warning to those who may be in the area to avoid the YouTube HQ at all costs due to the active shooter situation.
Re: YouTube situation, we are coordinating with authorities and will provide official information here from Google and YouTube as it becomes available.
— Google Communications (@Google_Comms) April 3, 2018
