After nearly a year of investigation, the San José Police Department has reported an arrest in the city's 20th homicide of 2024. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Lam Thanh Mac, a San José resident, was apprehended last Thursday and is now facing murder charges. SJPD's update states that the suspect was believed to have fled to the greater Las Vegas Metropolitan area of Nevada following the incident.
The catalyst for the arrest came from the community itself, at approximately 3:18 AM on August 11, 2024, when officers responded to a shooting at a business located on the 900 block of McLaughlin Avenue. According to Hoodline, multiple calls regarding a shooting inside the business initially brought police to the scene, where they found an adult male suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
Despite the immediate medical aid provided by officers and subsequent paramedics, the victim was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital. While the investigation continues in an attempt to unravel the motive and circumstances surrounding the event, the identity of the victim has been released by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office, following the notification of the next of kin.
The breakthrough in this case was aided by the vigilance of community members and the visibility garnered through social media and news outlets. "Thanks to the vigilance of our community and the widespread attention this case received through social media and news agencies, critical information was brought forward that led to a significant break in the case," a statement obtained by the San José Police Department highlighted the importance of public assistance in their efforts to capture the suspect. The MERGE Unit, Covert Response Unit (CRU), and the entire Special Operations Division of SJPD coordinated the arrest.
SJPD encourages anyone with additional information to contact Detective Sergeant Varela or Detective Montoya of the Homicide Unit. They can be reached via email at [email protected] and/or [email protected], or 408-277-5283.
