The San José Police Department is reaching out to the public for help following a fatal shooting in a local unhoused encampment, which marks the city's 13th homicide this year. On the evening of May 9, officers rushed to the scene on Mclaughlin Avenue near HWY 280 after receiving reports of gunfire. They discovered an adult male with gunshot wounds. He was swiftly transported to a hospital but ultimately did not survive, according to the department's official briefing.
Investigators have named Joseph "Jo Jo" Martinez as the suspect connected to this homicide and have issued a warrant for his arrest. Martinez remains at large, described as a Hispanic male, standing 5' 3" and weighing approximately 115 pounds, distinctively marked by a teardrop tattoo on his face. The authorities are seeking assistance in locating Martinez and urging anyone with information to step forward.
The victim, who has been identified only as "Kumar" by those in the vicinity, was an East Indian man thought to be around 30 to 34 years of age. Descriptions indicate he was 6' 0" tall, weighed roughly 141 pounds, and sported straight black hair and a trident tattoo on his right arm. He was believed to have attended school in San José from 2006 to 2010.
SJPD's Homicide Unit, led by Detective Sergeant Taylor #4257 and Detective Harrington #4365, is handling the investigation and is appealing directly to the community for help in this urgent matter. Information can be shared through several avenues: direct email to the detectives, via the SJPD website, or through the P3TIPS mobile app for those who prefer to remain anonymous. Tips leading to an arrest may even result in a cash reward through the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program, outlined on the San José Police Department website.
