Originally published as a City of Santa Clara press release –
“On Jan. 12, 2021, at approximately 2:25 p.m., residents on the 3400 block of Agate Drive reported hearing multiple gunshots in the area. When the Santa Clara Police Department arrived on the scene to investigate, officers located spent shell casings and confirmed bullets were fired.
Further investigation revealed two unknown suspects confronted a 26-year-old male victim and brandished handguns. The suspects fired their weapons in the victim’s direction, and then the suspects fled the scene in a gray-colored Infiniti sedan. No injuries occurred as a result of gunshots being fired; however, several vehicles were damaged from bullets.
Prior to the incident, the suspects were seen congregating in a laundry room on the 3400 block of Agate Drive. Detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify the suspects. If you have additional information regarding this incident, please contact Detective Sergeant Torke at (408) 615–4806. Anonymous callers can leave tips at (408) 615-4847.
On Jan. 12, 2021, at about 9:32 p.m., Santa Clara Police officers patrolling the area of Scott Boulevard and Benton Street heard gunshots in the area. Officers located a vehicle and saw the front passenger discard a firearm out the window.
Officers stopped the vehicle, arrested the suspects and recovered the discarded firearm. Officers then canvassed the area of Scott Boulevard and Benton Street, located spent shell casings and confirmed bullets were fired. The suspects admitted to discharging their firearm from the vehicle. Fortunately, no citizens were injured as a result of the gunshots.
Suspect #1 Joseph M. Rodriguez was arrested for negligent discharge of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle and willful/malicious discharge of a firearm from a vehicle.
Suspect #2 Emmanuel Guirnela was arrested for carrying a loaded firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm, willful/malicious discharge from a vehicle and driver/owner allow discharge from a vehicle.
The Santa Clara Police Department booked both suspects into the Santa Clara County Jail for further criminal proceedings.
These types of crimes are not typical in the City of Santa Clara. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, proactive policing by our officers resulted in the confiscation of 119 firearms. The Santa Clara Police Department is committed with keeping our citizens and community safe.
