Crime & Safety
SJ Police Chief Details Officer's Shooting, IDs Suspect
A female officer was shot Wednesday while attempting to help a woman who said her husband was drunk and trying to hit her, police said.
SAN JOSE, CA — Authorities have identified a suspect who shot and injured a San Jose police officer Wednesday morning and lauded the courage of the officer's partner for coming to her aid.
At about 8:20 a.m., officers went to the 1300 block of Auzerais Avenue to investigate a report of a family disturbance. A woman reported that her husband was drunk and tried to hit her. According to Police Chief Anthony Mata at a briefing Wednesday evening, the suspect had allegedly broken down their bathroom door.
Responding officers arrived at a two-story condominium complex, which had an enclosed stairway leading up to a balcony that served as the primary entrance into the residence. When the officers announced themselves, the suspect allegedly came out onto the balcony landing, and "from a position of concealment, discharged a firearm," striking the female officer, according to Mata.
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"What followed next was an act of undeniable courage that few of us will ever experience," said Mata, who described how the female officer's partner pulled her from the line of fire and began rendering aid.
San Jose police have not released the names of the officers, but state Assemblymember Evan Low, D-Campbell, said on social media that the officer that pulled the police woman to safety was his brother.
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The suspect, Gabriel Carreras, 44, then allegedly barricaded himself into the residence, resulting in a four-hour standoff, Mata said. The suspect's wife exited the condo and was not injured.
Carreras was taken into custody a little after 1:15 p.m.
Mata said Carreras has an "extensive" criminal history and is barred from being in possession of a firearm. He was also on active felony probation.
The officer struck is the first female officer to be shot in the department, Mata said, and she has been in law enforcement for 10 years.
"Today, we are extremely blessed that we did not lose another officer," Mata said. "I'm tired and angry that violence and firearms in the hands of those who shouldn't have them continue to be present in our communities, putting everyone in danger."
Mata noted that the officer was the second officer this year to be shot in the line of duty in San Jose.
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