Man Fatally Shot By Police At South San Jose Power Plant ID'd

SANTA CLARA VALLEY, CA — An armed man who was shot by San Jose police at the Metcalf Energy Center last week was identified by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office as San Jose resident Thompson Nguyen, 27. Nguyen was killed in the officer-involved shooting on Jan. 9 after he allegedly charged at officers with weapons after receiving no less than 23 commands to stand down.

San Jose police Chief Eddie Garcia said officers responded at 5:02 p.m. to a call from a power plant employee about a suspicious vehicle at the site at 1 Blanchard Road in South San Jose. The employee described an Asian man in his 20s, standing about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 145 pounds as suspicious when he pulled up in a Mercedes-Benz and pulled something out of his trunk that was unidentifiable, Garcia said.

The chief said investigators believe Nguyen gained access to the property by jumping over the fence after the call was made.

The employee called back to police to report that Nguyen had a backpack, a pipe and possibly an ax with him. Police did not discuss how close he got to employees.

When officers arrived, they found Nguyen's black Mercedes unoccupied and located a large sword laying in the driver's seat.

When police ran the man's license plate, the vehicle was identified as armed and dangerous by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office because of a prior incident.

Nguyen had led authorities on a pursuit in Santa Cruz County after he brandished a weapon around security guards and possessed a sword in that event as well, Garcia said.

At the power plant, officers eventually located Nguyen in a matter of minutes based on the employee's description, Garcia said.

At that time, the two police officers who reported to the scene, later identified as Adam Hutson and Timothy Faye, saw that Nguyen was wielding a 6-foot pipe and an ax.

They gave Nguyen verbal commands to surrender or drop the weapons, but he refused to comply and walked away from them, according to Garcia.

The officers followed Nguyen at "a safe distance" and continued to give him verbal commands to drop his pipe and ax, but he continued to act defiantly and turned toward them yelling "shoot me" and "kill me" multiple
times, Garcia said.

Nguyen then advanced toward the officers still armed with his weapons and got 5 to 6 feet away from one officer, at which time the first officer shot at Nguyen. Nguyen continued toward the second officer present
with his weapons, which is when the second officer shot at him too, according to Garcia.

Nguyen was hit at least once by a bullet and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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A search of Nguyen's possessions afterward revealed that he was also carrying an additional ax, six throwing knives and pepper spray, Garcia said.

Hutson and Faye were both wearing body cameras that were activated during the shooting, police confirmed. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has custody of the footage and it is under review.

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Hutson and Faye are on routine paid administrative leave while the investigation is taking place, according to Garcia.

Nguyen had a history of numerous prior offenses, which included narcotics, weapon violations and resisting arrest. In September 2017, he was submitted for a 72-hour psychiatric hold.

Nguyen was not on probation or parole but had three active warrants against him in Santa Clara County for traffic-related offenses, resisting arrest and various drug offenses, Garcia said.

Police do not think Nguyen had ties to the power plant itself and do not know his motive for entering the premises. They are doing an extensive search into Nguyen's history for clarity, according to Garcia.

The district attorney's office and San Jose police are doing a joint investigation into the case.

By Bay City News Service

Image via San Jose Police Department Twitter page