According to a statement from a Deputy B. Cassidy, the father — who had fired the sub-machine gun first — told officers “it appeared that (the girl) was injured as she was holding her shoulder. (The father) said the family huddled around her and was unaware that Vacca had been shot.”

The father then said he saw another instructor run to the table and begin helping Vacca, and it was only then he realized the scope of the tragedy.

“(The father) said he immediately brought his family to the restaurant so his children would not see what happened.”