Suspect In South Bay Cop Shooting Charged With Attempted Murder

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — The suspect in the shooting of a South Bay police officer over the weekend was charged with attempted murder Wednesday, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said.

Jeffrey Choy, a 33-year-old transient with Stockton ties, was arrested around noon Sunday in Fremont in connection with the shooting of a Mountain View police officer early Saturday morning, authorities said.

The officer, who has not been identified, suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Choy was arraigned Wednesday in the Santa Clara County Superior Court and is being held without bail, authorities said. He was already wanted for failing to appear for court on a felony gun charge, authorities said.

If convicted, Choy faces life in prison.

“An officer who was trying to make sure there weren’t drunk drivers in Mountain View was almost killed the other night,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement.

“It’s outrageous. If it wasn’t for luck, reflexes, and the officer’s vest, this would be a murder. We will do everything in our power to make sure this person can never hurt anyone else again.”

U.S. Marshals, Mountain View police detectives along with several other Bay Area law enforcement agencies arrested Choy in Fremont after a short foot pursuit, police said.

Choy was the only suspect sought in connection with the shooting, authorities said.

The officer was conducting a traffic stop as part of a DUI enforcement operation at around 12:35 a.m. Saturday when a person inside the vehicle shot at the officer, police said.

The shooting occurred at Villa Street and Wild Cherry Lane, police said.

Choy fled and crashed his car near the scene on Higdon Street, and then ran away.

"To say that I am proud of the around-the-clock work our teams did to find the man responsible for wounding our officer is an understatement," Mountain View Police Department Chief Chris Hsiung said in a statement Sunday, shortly after the arrest.

"I am overwhelmed with gratitude at their sacrifice, I am in awe of their persistence, and I am so thankful all are safe."