In an incident that erupted into violence, San José Police Department (SJPD) officers have netted a suspect for attempted murder following a late-night shooting in early September. The suspect, identified as Michael Alvarez, was arrested after a standoff last Wednesday, where he had barricaded himself in a residence.
The confrontation occurred on September 2, the SJPD reports, around 12:52 AM on Minnesota Avenue. Arriving officers discovered signs of an altercation, including spent bullet casings. The involved parties had left the scene, but police later located a vehicle connected to the victims, discovering it to be peppered with bullet holes. One male victim, shot at least once, received medical attention at a local hospital, while a female victim was unscathed.
Thorough investigations by the SJPD Assaults Unit Detectives revealed Michael Alvarez as the shooter. An arrest warrant alongside a search warrant for his residence led to the October 8 operation. Disturbingly, the suspect held himself up in a residence close to the original crime scene, precipitating the response of the SJPD Special Operations Unit, which resorted to chemical agents to coax Alvarez out.
Following Alvarez’s surrender, the subsequent search of his residence yielded a gamut of incriminating evidence. According to SJPD's statement, they located "a loaded privately made firearm, ammunition, a 3-D printer used to manufacture firearms, and various narcotics." Alvarez now faces a multitude of charges, including attempted murder and offenses related to firearms and narcotics.
Multiple units were instrumental in the apprehension and arrest of the suspect, including the involvement of the bomb squad and K-9 unit, among other specialized teams, the SJPD detailed. Alvarez is currently being held at the Santa Clara County Main Jail. SJPD encourages anyone with further information to contact the Assaults Unit to aid in the ongoing investigation.
