The San Jose Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying the suspect(s) responsible for shooting at two CHP officers that occurred on Thursday, March 5, at approximately 11:36 P.M. According to the San Jose Police, their officers responded to northbound Highway 101 near Story Road to assist CHP officers with the shooting investigation.
According to Officer Albert Morales “San Jose officers were informed that a two-officer CHP vehicle was on a car stop at this location when shots were fired in their direction.” It was determined that one of the bullet rounds struck the roof of the CHP vehicle. During the incident, the CHP officers were not injured. Morales said, “The unidentified suspect(s) were not located and remain at large.”
Persons with information regarding this case are urged to contact Detective Cruz of the San Jose Police Department’s Assaults Unit at (408) 277-4161. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line, (408) 947-STOP (7867).
Juan Luna was shot in this area on Oak Street. Another shooting occurred here during a vigil for him.
The San Jose Police Department is also requesting the public’s help in identifying possible gang suspects related to a shooting on Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 A.M. According to Lieutenant Heather Randol, “The San Jose Police Department 911 Communications Center received a call of a male shot in the area of Almaden Avenue and Oak Avenue in San Jose.” SJPD patrolling officers responded and located an adult male victim who had been shot at least once. Randol said, “The victim was transported to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. The victim was identified as Juan Luna, 20 years old from San Jose.”
The San Jose Police Department Homicide Unit is currently conducting follow up investigation to determine the motive and circumstances surrounding this murder. There is no suspect information to release at this time. The preliminary investigation revealed indications the shooting was gang related.
Another shooting occurred at a vigil being held for Luna on Monday. One man was injured in that incident, which was followed, 90 minutes later, by the sighting of a Ford Fusion that matched the description of a car seen at the shooting. San Jose police began trailing the car, and as it entered north-bound Interstate 680, they saw a gun thrown near the Washington Blvd. exit. CHP officers took over the pursuit, and after hitting speeds of 100 miles per hour, the car’s left rear tire blew out, and the car stopped on the freeway’s center divider. The five occupants of the car were arrested, and possible connections to the death of Juan Luna are being investigated.
Persons with information regarding the above case are urged to contact Detective McDonald or Detective Santiago of the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (408)277-5283. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may either call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line, (408) 947-STOP (7867).
Jacob Lapenis, Jasmine Rosales, Thalia Ruiz, Michael Anaya, and Arturo Garcia-Laredo
UPDATE: Earlier today, Friday March 13, police identified the five suspects arrested in the pursuit, and who were also charged as suspects in the death of Juan Luna. Though they are all juveniles, police identified them since they will be tried as adults by Santa Clara County prosecutors. They were named as Jacob Lapenias, 17, Jasmine Rosales, 17, Thalia Ruiz, 16, Michale Anaya, 15, and Arturo Garcia-Laredo, 14. As it is believed that the shootings were gang related, enhancements have been added to the charges they all face.
Read More:
San Jose Mercury News: Five teens charged with murder in deadly drive-by shooting
CrimeVoice Staff contributed to this story
