Michael Velavalencia
SAN JOSE — The San Jose Police Department announced the arrest of five felony suspects who were wanted in multiple robberies, carjacking, and an attempted homicide.
18-year-old Michael Velavalencia — along with juveniles aged 14, 15, 16, and 17 years old — were arrested on October 12 after extensive field work led San Jose Police investigators to their whereabouts.
According to San Jose Police Officer Gina Tepoorten, “On Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at approximately 9:55 PM, three male suspects entered Walgreen’s located at 1130 Bird Avenue.” During the brief encounter with employees inside the store, (the trio) began to ransack the shelves, stealing multiple items with disregard for any of the merchandise within the aisles. One employee witnessing the theft was knocked to the ground but was not seriously injured.
Later that day, the group went to another area and attempted to enter a residence by force. Teporten said, “At approximately 10:52 PM, four male suspects attempted to gain entry into a residence in the 2500 block of Cottle Avenue.”
The owner of the home confronted the teens and adult suspects outside of the residence with a loaded handgun in hopes of deterring them, but as he started towards the group, the 16-year-old male suspect fired multiple shots at the homeowner, hitting him multiple times. The homeowner sustained non-life threatening wounds from the attack.
Within a few minutes of police responding to the shooting scene, the suspects were seen rummaging through a parked car just a few blocks away near Mary Lee Way at Woodmont Drive.
Teporten said, “On Thursday, October 12, 2017, at approximately 3:00 AM, an occupied residential burglary occurred in the 1200 block of Norval Way.” No one was injured at the time of the forced entry into the residence. A green Kia sedan was taken from the residence. Within hours, the teen and adult suspects entered a second residence.
Teporten said, “At approximately 4:30 AM, an occupied residential burglary occurred in the 500 block of Hyde Park Drive. The suspects had entered the home in order to steal a white Mercedes and black Range Rover parked in the driveway.”
With DNA, fingerprints, and other evidence located, 18-year-old Michael Velavalencia was arrested by San Jose patrol officers for possession of a stolen vehicle. Teporten said, “Velavalencia was subsequently booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for two counts of burglary, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, possession of a stolen vehicle, and evading a peace officer.”
Teporten said, “At approximately 9:30 AM, a carjacking occurred at the Tamien Light Rail Station, located at 499 West Alma Avenue in San Jose (Santa Clara County Sheriff’s jurisdiction).” Three teens had driven into the parking lot and had forcibly stolen a second vehicle. The previously stolen white Mercedes was identified as being the vehicle used by the teens to drive to the scene.
Later that afternoon, at approximately 3:40 PM, the Santa Clara County Regional Auto Theft Task Force had located the white Mercedes with three juvenile suspects inside. The 17-year-old Juvenile suspect was identified and arrested for two counts of burglary, carjacking, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The 15-year-old juvenile suspect was arrested for carjacking possession of a stolen vehicle and the 14-year-old juvenile suspect was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle.
Teporten said, “At approximately 11:18 PM (October 12), suspect #2, who shot the homeowner, was arrested by San Jose patrol officers at his residence for attempted murder, robbery, and carjacking”
Persons with information regarding this incident or any other similar incidents are urged to contact Detective Tedro Habib of the San Jose Police Department’s Robbery Unit at (408) 277-4166.
