Police said the suspects fled before officers arrived, leaving two other men wounded.
SAN JOSE, CA — A man died after unknown suspects fired into a vehicle carrying three men early Sunday near South First and East Reed streets, police said, turning the downtown shooting into San Jose’s 10th homicide of 2026.
The shooting drew homicide detectives to a busy downtown area near apartment buildings and nightlife, where police are still trying to determine whether the victims were targeted, whether the violence followed a road rage encounter or whether another motive was involved. No arrests had been announced by Monday night. Police said the three victims were adult men and that the two survivors had injuries later determined to be non-life-threatening.
San Jose police said patrol officers were called about 2:19 a.m. May 31 to the area of South First Street and East Reed Street after reports of gunfire. Officers found three men, each suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The victims had been traveling in a vehicle when an unknown suspect or suspects fired multiple rounds into it, according to police. Local reports identified the vehicle as a black Porsche. After the gunfire, the Porsche crashed into a nearby high-rise apartment complex at First and East Reed streets. San Jose Police Department spokesperson Stacie Shih said investigators were still working to understand what happened before the shooting. “We are still trying to paint a picture of what led to the shooting,” Shih said.
All three victims were taken to local hospitals. One man later died from his injuries, police said. Authorities did not immediately release his name, pending confirmation by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office and notification of relatives. The other two men survived, and police said their wounds were not considered life-threatening. The suspects fled before officers arrived. Police said Monday there was no evidence that anyone inside the Porsche returned fire. Investigators also said the three victims did not live in San Jose, but their hometowns were not released while detectives continued interviews and evidence review. The motive and circumstances remained under investigation, and police had not released a description of the suspect vehicle or the people believed to be involved.
The shooting happened in a dense part of downtown San Jose where apartments, restaurants, bars and late-night traffic sit close together. The crash damaged windows at The Fay apartment complex, where plywood covered part of the building by Monday afternoon as cleanup crews cleared debris from the sidewalk. The location sits near South First Street, a corridor that can remain active after midnight on weekends. Police said the public danger was serious because gunfire struck a moving vehicle near homes and sidewalks. Shih said any case where someone fires a gun in public can put people nearby at risk. No bystanders or residents in the building were reported injured. The case became the city’s 10th homicide of the year.
Detectives from the San Jose Police Department Homicide Unit took over the investigation after patrol officers and crime scene technicians responded. Police identified Detective Sgt. Martinez and Detective Aboud as the homicide investigators assigned to the case. Investigators are expected to review physical evidence from the street and vehicle, seek video from nearby buildings and businesses, and interview the two surviving victims as their conditions allow. Police said those interviews may help determine whether the shooting was planned, tied to an earlier dispute or connected to a traffic encounter before the gunfire. As of Monday, no charges had been filed because no suspect had been publicly identified or arrested.
Residents nearby described hearing sudden, rapid gunfire before the crash. Jabari King, who was inside his apartment, said the shots came quickly and sounded like a burst of automatic gunfire. He estimated hearing 10 to 12 shots. Another resident, Neil Beck, said he heard vehicles moving fast before the gunfire and first wondered whether there had been a crash. The sound changed his mind. “I know the difference between fireworks and gunshots,” Beck said. Police have not confirmed whether the firearm used was automatic. Investigators also have not said how many rounds were fired, how many vehicles were involved or whether the Porsche was moving when the first shots were fired.
The investigation remained active Tuesday, June 2, with police still searching for the suspect or suspects. The next public milestone is expected when authorities identify the man who died, announce an arrest or release new investigative details.
Author note: Last updated June 2, 2026.