San Jose police have arrested four men in connection with a shooting incident that occurred last week, where the suspects allegedly fired at a vehicle occupied by two plainclothes officers.
The incident took place on January 20, around 10:40 p.m., at the intersection of McLaughlin Avenue and McLaughlin Court. The officers, who were in an unmarked vehicle, were confronted by a suspect vehicle. The suspects appeared to provoke a confrontation and indicated they were armed. After the initial exchange, both vehicles continued moving, and the officers parked along Melbourne Boulevard and McLaughlin Avenue, calling for backup.
The suspect vehicle made a sudden U-turn and drove toward the officers, with at least one suspect opening fire and hitting the police vehicle multiple times. In response, one officer exited the vehicle and returned fire. The suspect vehicle then sped away, leaving the officers unharmed but their vehicle damaged and unable to pursue.
After gathering evidence and identifying a possible suspect vehicle, detectives tracked down four men: Edward Ruiz, Gabriel Olmos, Robert Cesena, and Emilio Macias. Arrest warrants were issued, and all four men were apprehended between Thursday and Saturday. Olmos, 21, was arrested in Merced, Cesena, 37, in San Jose, and Macias, 22, in San Francisco. Ruiz, 21, was arrested in Gilroy.
The suspects are facing multiple charges, including attempted murder. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan praised the police department’s quick response, saying, “These suspects tried to take a life, and now they’ve lost their freedom.” Authorities continue to investigate the incident and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
