Stabbing death renews calls for increased police presence in known gang hot spot areas in San Jose
52-year-old Russell Hall of San Jose was found stabbed to death over the July 4th holiday weekend. According to SJPD police department, “On July 4, 2015 at 5:09 A.M., the San Jose Police Department 911 Communications Center received a call of a male stabbed in the area of 61 N. King Road in San Jose.” When officers arrived on the scene they were able to locate an adult male victim who was suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Hall was found in the morning of July 4th in the North King Road neighborhood.
The coroner’s office later identified the victim as 52-year-old Russell Hall. He was pronounced deceased a short time later at the hospital.
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. It is unknown if the victim and the suspect were known to each other.
Persons with information regarding the above case are urged to contact Detective Sgt. Milliken or Detective Corral of the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (408)277-5283. A fundraising page has been established on Youcaring.com to raise money to support the victim’s family.
This latest homicide comes at the heels of community members who are asking the San Jose Police to help monitor gang hot spots, as these areas are beginning to see an increase of violent crimes and robberies.
Concerned citizens are calling for more patrol cars on the streets of San Jose.
According to past records, before layoffs reported in 2013, SJPD staffing levels were well above 1100. However in recent reports, these levels have fallen below 920 sworn officers staffed to serve the public. Those numbers have shrunk since.
Police have been called to work heavy overtime hours, as regular shifts have begun to overlap into other shifts left understaffed by the departure of officers. With lower numbers of patrol officers, and between 80 and 90 total patrolling vehicles during a natural disaster or emergency, the numbers for patrolling officers are usually somewhere between 40 and 75 during these overlapping periods, requiring overtime as calls for assistance have greatly increased.
