The gunman remained at large after shots were fired during an unauthorized gathering of more than 300 people on private property.
MORGAN HILL, Calif. — One person was killed and six others were wounded when gunfire erupted at a large party near Morgan Hill that had been promoted on social media, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded at about 10:16 p.m. Saturday to Hale Avenue near Miramonte Avenue in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County. They had received reports of intoxicated people in the roadway and someone throwing bottles at passing vehicles. Deputies arrived to find more than 300 people fleeing after several shots had been fired. Authorities were still searching for the person or people responsible Monday.
The man who died was identified by loved ones as Desi Romero, also known as “Pepper.” He was pronounced dead at the scene. Six other adults were taken to hospitals, sheriff’s spokesperson Brooks Jarosz told local news outlets. Two had been released by Monday, while four remained hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Officials did not publicly identify the surviving victims.
Early reports gave different totals for the number of injured people. The Los Angeles Times initially reported that seven people had been injured. The Sheriff’s Office later clarified that seven people were shot in total, including the person who died, according to NBC Bay Area. That placed the number of surviving injured victims at six.
Investigators believe a handgun was used and have described the shooting as an isolated incident. They have not released a possible motive or a description of a suspected shooter. No arrests had been announced as of Monday evening, and authorities had not said whether Romero or the other victims were specifically targeted.
The gathering was held in an open field and advertised through social media, authorities said. The location was reportedly shared only hours before the event. The Sheriff’s Office described it as an unsanctioned party and said the owner of the private property did not know the gathering was taking place there.
The event was promoted as a birthday celebration for a San Jose livestreamer known online as NateDeBaiits. Part of the party was broadcast on Twitch before the shooting. Video circulated online showing attendees running after gunfire could be heard. Investigators were reviewing available footage as they worked to identify the shooter and determine what led to the violence.
The streamer said in a social media post that Romero had been a classmate and friend. He expressed condolences to Romero’s family and said he was heartbroken by the death. He also said he had received threats following the shooting. Authorities have not accused the streamer of involvement in the gunfire.
Romero’s relatives remembered him through an online fundraiser as a cherished son, brother, grandson, cousin and friend. The fundraiser said he was known to loved ones by the nickname Pepper. Authorities had not issued a separate public identification of the person killed as of Monday.
Some people who attended the party told NBC Bay Area that an armed man got past private security and that an argument happened before the shooting. Those accounts had not been independently confirmed by investigators. The Sheriff’s Office also said it could not immediately confirm claims from some attendees that the shooting was connected to gang activity.
Officers from the Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Jose police departments assisted sheriff’s deputies at the scene. The California Highway Patrol also helped with security and traffic control as investigators processed the area and interviewed witnesses.
Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert Jonsen called the shooting tragic and senseless and said investigators would continue working to identify and arrest those responsible. Detectives were seeking videos, photographs and information from the hundreds of people who attended the party. The investigation remained active Monday, with no suspect publicly identified and no motive confirmed.
Author note: Last updated July 27, 2026.