On Monday, August 13, 21-year-old Victor Mendoza was the victim in a shooting in San Jose; on Wednesday, he died at an area hospital. According to news reports, the shooting was the second one of three homicides that would take place that same day.
The shooting took place in the 2300 block of Denair Avenue just after 4 p.m. When police arrived at the scene, they found Mendoza suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was taken from the scene of the crime to the hospital, where he remained until he died on Wednesday.
Although there were three shootings in the area on Monday, police said there was no indication that the three crimes, all of which were deadly, were related. Upon initial investigations, it was believed that Mendoza was shot as suspects passed by in a vehicle, however the suspects fled and police had made no arrests in the case at the time of news reports. It was believed that the shooting may have been gang-related.
Just three hours after Mendoza’s shooting, 38-year-old Martin Chacon was killed as he was shot to death in his car just off Oakland Road on Charles Street. That same day, a stabbing took place at San Carlos and Meridian Streets just outside of Walgreens, killing a homeless woman. News reports reveal she was stabbed with a short samurai sword. While there were no arrests made in the shooting incidents, a 37-year-old man was arrested in the stabbing of the homeless woman, who appeared to be in her 60s according to eyewitnesses. It was also believed that the victim did not know the individual who stabbed her.
San Jose is a city where violent crime is common, however it often occurs after dark. On this particular day, police were surprised at the amount of violence that took place in broad daylight. Lt. Rick Weger of the San Jose Police Department stated that he was always surprised by any violence, but the crimes taking place in the daytime hours was surprising to everyone.
Those accused of or arrested for violent crimes including murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery or gang violence must have a seasoned San Jose criminal defense attorney capable of protecting your legal rights and freedom. Without a skilled lawyer on your side, the odds are great that you will face severe penalties including prison time and a permanent criminal record.
If you have been charged with any criminal offense, waste no time in consulting with an experienced and dedicated San Jose criminal defense lawyer.