Survivors recount San Ysidro McDonald's massacre after 30 years - KUSI News - San Diego, CA

30 years ago Friday, 41-year-old James Huberty walked into a McDonald's restaurant in the South Bay and killed 21 people, including 5 children and injuring 19 others. On the way out of his house that afternoon, he told his wife and daughter "I'm going hunting for humans and I won't be back." The McDonald's restaurant on West San Ysidro Boulevard is long gone; all that remains is a memorial with flowers and a plaque bearing the names of the 21 murder victims. James Huberty walked into the McDonald's that day armed to the teeth, and bent on killing as many people as he could.

"He fired three different weapons, fired more than 245 rounds from an Uzi, a .9mm and from a shotgun, so he just literally walked in and started killing people right off the bat," stated Police Lt. Jerry Sanders, San Diego's former mayor and police chief.

Sanders was commanding the SWAT team that day. As he made his way down to San Ysidro, he was getting update reports.

"All I knew was that they said people were fleeing from the restaurant, there were bodies all over, and he was putting out a massive amount of gunfire."

Inside, the 17-year-old Wendy Flanagan had gotten ice and was returning to the register when she heard what she thought was a firecracker, and then the world turned upside-down.

"He started shooting like da, da, da, da, da - like a machine gun."

Her co-worker Maggie grabbed her hand and said "run, run!"

"We were running, we were holding hands, and she fell, and I let go of her, and she died."

Wendy and several others - including mothers and babies - made their way to a closet.

"We stayed in there, we listened to gunfire. I would hear people beg for their lives, babies crying, and the rapid gunfire, and then the moms screaming, and quiet again."

Then noises at the closet door: somebody trying to get in, hitting the door and sliding down. It was 16-year old Alberto Leos, a co-worker who was hit several times.

"He was bleeding all over so another employee, Raul, he took off the shoelaces and tied them with Alberto's leg and arm and tried to stop the bleeding."

Alberto was biting down on a rag because of the pain and not wanting to make a noise for fear of being found. Meantime outside, the cops had gotten the perimeter contained.

"You could see bodies; officers were trying to pull them out, but they kept getting gunfire aimed at them," continued Sanders.

By now, Huberty was running short on ammunition. He'd killed almost everybody in the restaurant, or thought he had. 67 minutes into this massacre, there would be one more rifle shot.

"Finally, we were able to get a sniper up in the post office across the parking lot, and as soon as he had a sight picture, we ordered him to kill Huberty."

SWAT finally arrived at the closet. On the way out, Wendy saw the body of Maggie who had grabbed her hand, then fell. She also saw Maggie's family behind the police tape.

"I've never told her family this, so I hope that they hear this and know she was a very good, brave person.. She saved my life," proclaimed Wendy.

It's 30 years later and the memories have not faded. For Alberto Leos - now a police lieutenant - and Jerry Sanders and Wendy Flanagan, it was the hardest day of their lives.