Update: Suspect arrested after San Jose police officer shot in residential neighborhood
A shooting that injured a San Jose police officer led to an hours-long standoff with a suspect who was eventually taken into custody, police said Wednesday.
According to San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata, the original 911 call came in from the suspect's wife. She reported her husband, later identified as 44-year-old Gabriel Carreras, was drunk and attempting to hit her. She told the police dispatchers she tried to lock herself in the bathroom and he broke down the door.
Two officers responded to the call and started walking toward the condo building. The suspect and his wife lived in an upstairs unit. When the officers headed toward the stairs, the suspect fired from the balcony down at the officers, hitting the female officer once. She was shot in the midsection below her bulletproof vest. She is now in critical condition but is stable for the time being. The officers did not have time to return fire, and the suspect barricaded himself inside the home.
Garibay said a crisis intervention team along with other special units were on hand trying to contact the suspect. Garibay also said the neighbors surrounding the residence were evacuated.
At 1:17 p.m., the San Jose Police Department said on social media that the suspect had been taken into custody.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan wrote on social media, "I am praying for the swift recovery of our @SanJosePD officer who was shot this morning while responding to a domestic violence call. She is currently at the hospital, and my thoughts are with her family during this unimaginably difficult time."
This is the first female officer to be shot in the line of duty in San Jose. It's the second officer to be shot this year in the line of duty. The officer and her partner had both been with the department for over 10 years, and both were wearing body cameras that were recording at the time of the shooting.
"What followed next was an act of undeniable courage that few of us will ever experience," said Mata, who described how the female officer's partner pulled her from the line of fire and began rendering aid.
San Jose police have not released the names of the officers, but state Assemblymember Evan Low, D-Campbell, said on social media that the officer that pulled the policewoman to safety was his brother.
Mata said Carreras has an "extensive" criminal history and is barred from being in possession of a firearm. He was also on active felony probation.
"Today, we are extremely blessed that we did not lose another officer," Mata said. "I'm tired and angry that violence and firearms in the hands of those who shouldn't have them continue to be present in our communities, putting everyone in danger."