A man with a gun and the woman he took hostage both died Monday afternoon when a standoff ended violently, San Jose police said.
Police responded to reports of a barricade situation about 2:15 p.m. after receiving a call that a man with a gun had taken a woman hostage inside a home in San Jose's Cambrian neighborhood. Police said the suspect and victim knew one another.
The male suspect "forcefully took" the woman into the home in the 4400 block of Camden Avenue, police said in a news release. He fired two shots into the ground before entering the home, authorities said.
About three hours after police responded, the situation came to a violent end, with both the male suspect and female hostage dead, according to police.
Special operations officers were setting up a perimeter in the area and finishing up with evacuations at 5:05 p.m. Monday when the suspect exited a residence armed with at least a handgun, San Jose police spokesman Albert Morales said.
Gunfire erupted, and police later confirmed the suspect and one officer fired shots.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, Morales said. Officers then searched the residence and found the hostage dead inside.
Local
Morales also said an officer was injured during the shooting. The officer was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Neighbors said the area looked like a war zone because of the heavy police presence.
"I was standing in my driveway and I heard lots of pops and exchange of gunfire," said San Jose resident Linda Malinsky. "And then I heard loud bangs."
The standoff and shooting also left residents in shock.
"I'm stunned," said neighbor Ron Mortenson. "I've lived here 30 years. I can't recall anything like this happening in my neighborhood. I don't want anything like this happening in my neighborhood."
During the standoff, all vehicle and pedestrian traffic was diverted away from the scene.
The northbound ramp of CA-85 at Union Avenue was closed, according to the California Highway Patrol. Stratford Middle School on nearby Andover Lane was advised to shelter in place. The normal dismissal time was 3:15 p.m., but there were a number of after-school activities ongoing.
Police said the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Guire or Detective Tran of the San Jose Police Department homicide unit at 408-277-5283.
