Crime & Safety
Cold Case Murder Suspect Takes Own Life At San Jose Apartment
Deputies had just served a warrant at the man's residence, according to Santa Clara County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Reginald Cooks.
SAN JOSE, CA — A suspect in a 1974 cold case murder shot and killed himself after Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies served a search warrant at his apartment in San Jose this morning. The man who died was the primary suspect in the murder, according to sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Reginald Cooks.
At 9:04 a.m., deputies served the warrant at Del Coronado Apartments at 5255 Camden Ave. San Jose police said deputies made verbal contact with the suspect through a closed door.
Deputies began making an entry, but they saw the man holding a handgun and "immediately backed away," police said.
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They heard a gunshot a short time later but no deputies discharged their weapons, according to police.
Deputies entered the apartment and located a man with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
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The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies have not yet released his name. A news conference is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. today to provide more information about the case.
San Jose police and the Santa Clara District Attorney's Office are conducting a joint investigation due to "officer-involved incident" guidelines, police said.
Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact Sgt. John Barg or Detective Wayne Smith at 408-277-5283.
By Bay City News Service
Photos by Supriya Yelimeli/BCN
