The San José Police Department has arrested 45-year-old Jaime Cruz Castanon in connection with what is being treated as the city's 10th homicide of the year. Castanon, a San José resident, is facing murder charges following an incident that left an adult male victim dead in a business parking lot on the 1700 Block of Southwest Expressway.
According to a press release by the San José Police Department, the initial call that brought officers to the scene was made on Wednesday at about 6:08 AM, reporting a person who was down. Upon arrival, the officers found the victim unconscious and not breathing. The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office noted signs of trauma consistent with being hit by a vehicle, a detail which steered the investigation towards a vehicular assault.
The identification of the suspect hinged on utilizing the city's expanded network of public safety cameras and Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology. Both these tools were pivotal in identifying the suspect vehicle, which led to Castanon's apprehension later that evening in San José.
Investigators are still dissecting the motive behind the tragic event. After Castanon's arrest, he was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail. The victim's identity remains undisclosed, pending the notification of next of kin by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office.
San Jose authorities are urging anyone with more information on the case to reach out. Contacts have been provided for Detective Sergeant Van Den Broeck and Detective Estanino at the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit. They can be reached via the emails provided on the San José Police Department's official announcement or by calling 408-277-5283.
