The San Jose man killed by a police officer late Wednesday evening was wielding two machetes and what was later to be revealed to be a duplicate gun whereas he held a household hostage of their dwelling, in line with the San Jose Police Division.
In a information convention Monday morning, San Jose police Chief Anthony Mata referred to as the state of affairs a “terrifying dwelling invasion” which created a “risky and high-risk state of affairs.” Not one of the individuals held hostage have been injured.
“The swift, decisive and life-saving actions of the responding officers resulted within the rescue of a mom and her two kids from an unknown armed assailant,” Mata stated. “Each officer at this occasion was completely decided to avoid wasting the household and arrive at a peaceable decision whereas understanding that they had little or no room for error.”
Mata stated the division acquired calls round 8:30 p.m. Wednesday reporting a struggle involving a machete in an condo within the 900 block of Boynton Avenue in West San Jose. Later calls revealed an grownup lady was screaming for assist from the condo. A responding officer suggested the division that a man was inside with a machete.
Officers made makes an attempt to talk to the suspect, later recognized as Eliobert Gonzalez-Rocha, in each English and Spanish however he by no means responded, Mata stated. After a short while, officers dominated that it was a hostage state of affairs and referred to as within the MERGE unit — the San Jose police division’s special-tactics squad — for assist.
The husband of the lady and father of the 7 and 18-year previous boys later arrived on the scene.
Officers noticed Gonzalez-Rocha within the rear bed room of the condo by way of a gap within the window coverings; they reported he was holding a machete whereas the victims held their palms up. At one level, the mom was capable of transfer the 7-year previous to a closet, authorities stated.
Police stated Gonzalez-Rocha ultimately ordered the mom to tie the 18-year previous’s palms with an electrical twine, and instructed them each to kneel and face away from him.
“Because of the suspect’s actions and erratic habits, officers believed the state of affairs was escalated and in addition believed that the household’s lives have been in instant and mortal hazard,” Mata stated.
Officers on the rear of the house noticed Gonzalez-Rocha changing into extra agitated, Mata stated, and made a plan to provoke entry into the house. One officer noticed the suspect holding a machete in a single hand and a handgun, later discovered to be a duplicate, within the different.
An officer used a software to interrupt into the house by way of the rear window, noticed the suspect elevate the machete towards one of many victims and fired a number of rounds on the suspect, Mata stated. Gonzalez-Rocha was transported to a hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless.
“This traumatic and terrifying incident will stay with this household for the remainder of their lives,” Mata stated. “It's also an incident that may have an effect on the remainder of the officers that have been current that evening, particularly the officer that saved their lives by taking one other … To say that I'm happy with the officers doesn't start to explain what it appears like to guide our wonderful women and men.”
Only one officer, a nine-year veteran of the division, fired pictures at Gonzalez-Rocha and was positioned underneath administrative go away. The officer was carrying a physique digicam, and Mata stated the footage can be launched at a later date. The case will then go to the workplace of Santa Clara County District Legal professional Jeff Rosen, the place it’ll be decided whether or not the killing was lawful.
Police later decided that Gonzalez-Rocha was lately evicted from an condo in the identical advanced and was trying to reclaim his keys however trying to find a supervisor within the incorrect place, Mata stated. He added that Gonzalez-Rocha broke in by way of the condo’s sliding glass door wielding two machetes, the reproduction handgun and a steel pole. Gonzalez-Rocha threatened to kill the three victims as he demanded his keys.
Mata stated the reproduction gun discovered on the scene can hearth non-lethal projectiles, however didn’t specify precisely what sort of ammunition the firearm used. State legislation requires the California Legal professional Common to analyze police killings of individuals decided to be unarmed.
Mata added that the division believes the break-in was a case of mistaken id, and that the household who was held hostage stated later that they didn't know who Gonzalez-Rocha was.