On June 25, 2019, Xavier Souto, aged 38, tragically lost his life in a shooting incident at the Ford Store in Morgan Hill, California. The incident occurred when Steven Leet, a disgruntled former employee of the dealership, opened fire on his supervisors after being terminated earlier that day. Leet, who had worked in the parts department, returned to the dealership with two handguns and targeted his supervisors, killing both Xavier Souto and Brian Light, the Parts and Service Director. The shooting took place in the late afternoon, causing chaos and panic among the employees and customers present at the scene.
The motive behind the shooting was identified as workplace violence. Leet, who had no prior criminal history, was reportedly upset about his termination and decided to take drastic measures. After shooting Souto and Light, Leet exited the building and took his own life by shooting himself in the head. The Morgan Hill Police Department responded swiftly to the scene, but the tragic events had already unfolded by the time they arrived. The incident left the community in shock and mourning, as both victims were well-known and respected in their professional and personal lives.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Morgan Hill community came together to support the families of the victims. A candlelight vigil was held to honor the memories of Xavier Souto and Brian Light, drawing hundreds of attendees who shared their grief and solidarity. Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to provide financial assistance to the victims' families, raising significant funds to help them cope with the sudden loss. The Ford Store Morgan Hill also provided grief counseling services to its employees to help them process the traumatic event.
There were no arrests made in connection with the shooting, as the perpetrator, Steven Leet, had already taken his own life. The investigation by the Morgan Hill Police Department confirmed that the incident was an isolated case of workplace violence with no further threats to the community. The tragic event highlighted the importance of addressing workplace grievances and providing support to employees to prevent such incidents in the future. The community's response demonstrated resilience and a commitment to healing and supporting one another in the face of tragedy.
