The chase began with a stolen green Corvette and ended near Highway 87 as an SJPD sergeant was critically wounded.
SAN JOSE, CA — A carjacking suspect died Wednesday after a multi-county pursuit ended in downtown San Jose with an exchange of gunfire, police said. A San Jose police sergeant was shot and hospitalized in critical but stable condition. The suspect, who authorities say was armed, was shot by officers and then struck by a patrol vehicle during the final confrontation near West Julian Street close to Highway 87.
Police from multiple agencies said the incident started shortly after 2 p.m. when a gunman stole a vehicle from a San Jose dealership, triggering a pursuit that stretched into San Benito County and back to the South Bay. The chase snarled traffic and drew a large emergency response as downtown streets were closed for hours. Investigators from San Jose, Hollister and county agencies converged on the scene while officers searched for evidence and reviewed traffic and security video. The sergeant, who was not immediately named, was expected to survive, according to police. Authorities said the suspect’s name would be released after next-of-kin notification.
According to police accounts, the chain of events began around 2:37 p.m., when a green Corvette was reported stolen at gunpoint in San Jose. An SJPD helicopter later tracked the car as it traveled south toward Hollister. Around 2:56 p.m., officers located the vehicle near Central Avenue and Miller Road and pursued it at low speed until it became disabled near Buena Vista Road and Westside Boulevard. Police said the suspect, armed with a firearm, abandoned the Corvette, confronted officers, and fled on foot before taking another vehicle and heading back toward Santa Clara County. The chase ended near the 300 block of West Julian Street, just off Highway 87, where shots were exchanged and the SJPD sergeant was hit. “This was a violent spree that moved across jurisdictions,” Sgt. Jorge Garibay said in an evening briefing.
Officials said officers returned fire during the downtown confrontation, striking the suspect. In the chaos that followed, a patrol vehicle also hit the suspect, who was later pronounced dead. Police did not immediately say whether the death was due to gunfire, the vehicle strike, or both, and the precise sequence of shots and movement remained under review late Wednesday. The sergeant was rushed to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and listed in critical but stable condition. Agencies involved included the San Jose Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the Hollister Police Department and the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office. Highway 87 on-ramps near the scene were briefly closed, and blocks around West Julian Street and nearby cross streets were sealed with police tape as investigators worked.
Witness video shared with local outlets showed officers sprinting toward cover as sirens echoed through downtown. Drivers reported gridlock around the Guadalupe River Park corridor while police diverted traffic from the closure. Business owners said customers sheltered inside as patrol cars converged. By early evening, detectives marked shell casings and mapped vehicle positions near the scene. Police emphasized that the suspect was linked to multiple armed confrontations throughout the afternoon, including at least one exchange of gunfire outside San Jose. Officials said body-worn camera footage exists from the downtown shooting, but its release will be governed by state disclosure rules and agency policy.
Authorities said the investigation will examine ballistics, dash-camera and helicopter video, radio traffic, and security footage from streets bordering West Julian Street. As is standard after an officer-involved shooting, the officers who discharged their weapons will be placed on administrative leave while the case is reviewed. Separate inquiries are underway by the homicide unit and internal investigators, with outside oversight from county prosecutors. Detectives were also working to identify the vehicle the suspect allegedly took after abandoning the Corvette in Hollister and to confirm whether additional crimes occurred during the flight back to San Jose. The suspect’s identity and age were not immediately released pending notification of relatives.
Neighbors described a surge of sirens just before the final exchange, followed by shouted commands and the rumble of helicopters overhead. Commuters trying to reach Highway 87 reported on-ramp closures and being redirected around the downtown core. “It all happened fast — you could hear the burst and then officers yelling to back up,” said Marcus Rodriguez, who works nearby and watched police move people away from West Julian Street. Officials did not report any injured bystanders. Late Wednesday, crews remained on scene measuring distances between evidence markers and vehicles as traffic slowly reopened block by block.
As of late Wednesday night, the sergeant remained hospitalized, and investigators continued canvassing for witnesses and video. Police said more information, including the suspect’s name and a fuller timeline of the pursuit, will be released after family notification and preliminary reviews. The next expected update is anticipated once scene processing concludes and major-crimes detectives complete initial interviews.
Author note: Last updated January 21, 2026.