U.S. Representative Dan Lipinski and his wife were at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in northern California Sunday when a gunman opened fire on attendees, killing three people including a 6-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl.

The 3rd District Congressman and his wife were attending the festival while on vacation in northern California, a spokesman for Lipinski said.

About 5:30 p.m., a gunman armed with an assault rifle began shooting into the crowd, apparently randomly. A 6-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man were killed.

“The shooter was not far from us as we heard the loud “pops,” which seemed to get closer as we ran,” Lipinski said in a statement. “We are very thankful to law enforcement. The tragedy would have been far worse if not for their quick action. Also, the festival staff did a great job in the aftermath.”

A spokesman for Lipinski asked that people “respect his and Judy’s privacy during this difficult time.”

“The level of gun violence in our nation is sickening,” Lipinski said. “It is an issue we must deal with not only legislatively, but spiritually and socially.”