A gunman shot and killed 21 people at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro on July 18, 1984. At that time, it was the deadliest mass shooting in American history. Over the course of 77 minutes, James Huberty fatally shot 21 people and wounded 19 others before police snipers killed him. Forty years later, the motive for the San Ysidro McDonald’s massacre remains unclear as no specific motive was ever established.
Now, the location of the massacre is Southwestern College’s San Ysidro Higher Education Center. Established in 1988, the center also serves as a living tribute to the 21 victims of the 1984 tragedy.
On July 18, at the SWC San Ysidro HEC, a memorial was held in remembrance of the victims. Speakers at the event included Gloria Casillas, a community activist who ensured the McDonalds did not reopen, and Guillermo Flores, the brother of a victim who rode his bike that day to McDonalds with some friends. The ceremony was followed by a community fair and a student artwork display.
Southwestern College Superintendent Dr. Mark Sanchez said the memorial was wonderful with over 100 people in attendance.
“We had locals there who knew people who were killed that day,” he said. “We had Gloria Falas, one of the key people who was key in getting the Southwestern College Higher Education Center San Ysidro at that actual location. It was an opportunity for us as a college to give a message to the community, that one, we will never forget what happened, and two, we will continue to support the San Ysidro community as a mission of our college. It was a day of commemoration.”
Sanchez said several other people spoke at the ceremony.
“A representative of [San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair] Nora Vargas spoke. Congressman Juan Vargas spoke. I spoke. We had one of the family members who lost his brother that day 40 years ago, who is now a vice principal at San Ysidro High School,” he said. “It was really a commemoration of the tragedy that affected the community so profoundly. And it was a way for Southwestern College to let the community know that we will never forget. We will honor that day in terms of the loss of loved ones that lost their lives that day. And it was an opportunity for us to reassure the community that the college is there for them.”
