A San Jose man is in critical condition at a San Jose-area
hospital after being shot approximately seven to nine times
– once in the face – in the back of a pick-up truck on Highway
156 near Fairview Road Friday morning, according to police.
Hollister – A San Jose man is in critical condition at a San Jose-area hospital after being shot approximately seven to nine times – once in the face – in the back of a pick-up truck on Highway 156 near Fairview Road Friday morning, according to police.
Police have little information about the incident and do not know what prompted the shooting.
San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call around 4:30am, where they found a motorist covered in blood helping a 31-year-old Hispanic male who was lying in the middle of the highway, according to Undersheriff Pat Turturici.
The victim had been shot multiple times and possibly at point-blank range, with a small to medium caliber semi-automatic handgun – such as a .22mm or .9mm – while sitting in the back of a pick-up truck which was parked on the shoulder of the highway when deputies arrived, Turturici said.
Investigators believe the man was in the back seat of the truck when the shooting took place, was shot three or four times near the upper left shoulder, in the torso and once in the face near his mouth, Turturici said. However, he was able to get out of the cab of the truck through the driver’s side door, walk to the median of the highway and flag down a passing motorist, he said. The man was semi-conscious and still lying in the middle of the road when deputies and medics arrived, but police have yet to get a full statement from him regarding the shooting, he said. Calstar air ambulance landed at the site and transported him to the hospital, Turturici said.
There were no witnesses to the incident.
While police do not know how many suspects are involved, whether the truck was moving when the shooting took place or if the suspects fled on foot or in another vehicle, Turturici said investigators have a possible lead but declined to elaborate. The weapon has not been found, and at this time Turturici said there is no evidence to show the shooting was gang related but police are still investigating the possibility.
“We’re not sure how it all happened,” he said. “It’s all preliminary and we’re investigating it right now.”
As of press time the man was still alive and deputies are considering the incident an attempted murder, Turturici said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s department at (831) 636-4080.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
