Standoff Ends Following Shootout With San Jose Police
SAN JOSE (BCN) - San Jose police are investigating the shooting of a man who exchanged gunfire with officers prior to a nearly five-hour standoff early Thursday morning.
The standoff began shortly after 4 a.m. in the area of Seminole and Tampa ways, Sgt. Ronnie Lopez said.
The man, a 34-year-old San Jose resident, "gave up and was taken into custody without incident" around 8:40 a.m., Lopez said. He had suffered gunshot wounds and was transported to a hospital.
Police first spotted his car around 1:50 a.m. in the area of Cunningham Avenue and Nassau Drive and tried to pull it over for a vehicle code violation, Lopez said.
The suspect fled, but officers managed to record a license plate number and checked it against police databases. They found that the registered owner of the vehicle had a $500,000 felony warrant for attempted murder in connection with a July incident in which he had allegedly stabbed his father multiple times in San Jose, according to police.
The man had a "very violent criminal history," according to police.
Once officers determined that the registered owner of the vehicle and the man who had fled were the same person, they patrolled the area in search of him.
The vehicle was spotted near Seminole and Tampa Ways at 4:08 a.m. with the man sleeping inside.
Officers surrounded the car and ordered the suspect to get out. He did not comply, and instead drove forward into a patrol car that had been pulled in front of his car to block him, according to police.
When an officer tried to approach the suspect, he allegedly pulled out a large-caliber handgun and fired shots at the officers, Lopez said.
Multiple officers returned fire.
Tactical negotiators were called to assist after the man continued to ignore officers' orders. Officers were able to eventually get him out by using a robot to approach his car.
The officer who initially approached the car suffered cuts to his face from broken glass and a minor injury to his leg, but was treated at a hospital and has since been released.
No officers were hit by gunfire, Lopez said.
About 15 residents of the East San Jose neighborhood that was evacuated were allowed to return home, Lopez said. No other injuries were reported.
The man's gun was recovered. He will be booked into Santa Clara County Jail upon his release from the hospital, Lopez said.
The investigation is being monitored by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and the Office of the Independent Auditor.
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