"Officer-Involved Shooting" in San Jose; Bosnian Immigrant Killed

Title:

Officer Involved Shooting
Location:

South Winchester Blvd. / Payne Ave.
Suspect:


Address:


Date:

September 27, 2004
Full Story:

TYPE OF CRIME: ADW On A Peace Officer/Officer-Involved-Shooting CASE NUMBER: 04-270-0519
LOCATION: S. Winchester Blvd./Payne Ave. DATE: 9-26-04 TIME: 1:15PM
VICTIM: San Jose Police Officer (9-year veteran)
SUSPECT: Deceased-Withheld (Pending Notification) AGE: 40
ADDRESS: San Jose Resident
DETAILS:
On 9-26-04 at about 1:10PM, a San Jose Police Officer walked into the Starbucks Coffee Shop at 1335 S. Winchester Blvd. to get a cup of coffee. The clerk in the shop pointed out a male outside that she said had been smoking on the premises today, even though he had been previously warned not to. She asked the officer to get to suspect to leave the premises. The officer went outside to contact the suspect.

The officer reported that the suspect immediately became extremely agitated and confrontational. The officer said that the suspect picked up a chair and raised it over his head to throw at him. The officer drew his taser and ordered the suspect to drop the chair. The suspect then threw the chair at the officer hitting him in the upper body. The officer backed away from the suspect and called for assistance. He said that the suspect continued to approach him so the officer pulled his taser and fired at the suspect. It appears that the taser stunned the suspect momentarily but was not fully effective.

The officer reported that the suspect then charged at him and began punching him repeatedly in the head and upper body. The officer said that he tased the suspect again but it had a minimal effect on the suspect. The officer continued backing away from the suspect and drew his firearm as the suspect continued to hit him. The officer fired several shots at the suspect and the suspect fell to the pavement. Paramedics were called to the scene. The suspect was transported to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators were called to the scene. Patrol officers canvassed the shopping center and nearby neighborhoods looking for potential witnesses.

This incident will be investigated by the San Jose Police Dept. Homicide Unit and monitored by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Teresa Guerrero-Daley, the Independent Police Auditor also responded to the scene. Her office will also monitor this investigation.

Anyone with any information on this case is urged to call Detective Sgt. Terry Simpson or Detective Manny Ramirez of the San Jose Police Dept. Homicide Unit at 408-277-5283. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP.