A dramatic and violent series of events unfolded across multiple counties, culminating in a deadly shootout on Wednesday. The chaos began with the theft of Corvettes and led to a veteran San Jose police sergeant being injured and the suspect losing his life, as reported by authorities.
On Thursday, updates from the San Jose police revealed that the sergeant, who was shot by the suspect during this multi-agency operation, is in stable condition. Currently hospitalized at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, he remains in critical condition but is expected to recover and is reportedly maintaining good spirits.
San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph held a news conference Thursday afternoon to shed light on the incident. He identified the suspect as 30-year-old Mohamed Husien from Davis, California. Chief Joseph explained that Husien’s crime spree began on January 17 in Sacramento with the theft of a red Corvette. From there, he ventured into the Bay Area, committing a string of robberies across various jurisdictions.
The situation escalated further on Wednesday when the suspect executed another armed carjacking at an auto mall in San Jose, this time making off with a green Corvette.
In a dramatic scene, San Jose police vehicles, along with an armored vehicle, cordoned off an intersection following the pursuit. The chase ended in a shootout that left the armed carjacking suspect dead and a veteran police sergeant critically wounded, according to authorities.
The pursuit was aided by the SJPD’s Real Time Intelligence Center, which tracked the stolen red Corvette using automated license plate reader cameras. This technology provided patrol officers with the car’s recent locations in San Jose, setting the stage for the ultimate confrontation.
A San Jose police helicopter tracked the suspect as he traveled south into San Benito County, alerting Hollister police and sheriff’s deputies around 2:48 p.m. Officers later located the vehicle near Central Avenue and Miller Road and engaged in a slow-speed pursuit that ended near Buena Vista Road and Westside Boulevard after the car became disabled.
Police say the suspect, armed with a handgun, abandoned the vehicle and fired at officers before fleeing on foot. He was later confronted near Buena Vista Road and Line Street, where sheriff’s deputies also exchanged gunfire. Authorities said the suspect then carjacked another vehicle at gunpoint and fled back toward San Jose, firing shots at California Highway Patrol officers during the pursuit.
A handgun recovered by police is shown in an undated evidence photo. Authorities said the weapon was collected as part of an investigation into a San Jose shooting. (San Jose Police Department)
A law enforcement source told KTVU the suspect was wanted in multiple robberies in East Palo Alto and San Mateo. The chase ended near Julian and Terraine streets, just off Highway 87, where another exchange of gunfire erupted.
Police say the suspect was killed during that confrontation, and the San Jose police sergeant was wounded by gunfire from the suspect. Bystanders reported hearing 20 to 30 gunshots in the neighborhood, and a portion of Highway 87 was closed for several hours as investigators processed the scene.
An aerial image shows a person standing behind a police vehicle during a chase in San Jose. Authorities said the incident ended with an officer wounded and a suspect dead. (San Jose Police Department)
San Jose police said their officers were not involved in the pursuit until it reentered city limits, though a department helicopter monitored the suspect throughout, relaying information to outside agencies and SJPD units.
Video circulating on social media appears to show the suspect entering and exiting a police vehicle before collapsing as officers rushed toward him. Police said they could not immediately confirm whether the suspect entered a patrol vehicle and added that the medical examiner will determine the manner of death.
Video shows a suspect holding what appears to be a handgun during a law enforcement incident in San Jose, authorities said. (San Jose Police Department)
“Every officer involved in yesterday’s harrowing incident will carry the heaviness of what happened for the rest of their lives,” Joseph said. “Some members of the public who were caught in the crossfire described it as the closest thing to war they have ever witnessed, and that gives you a sense of how intense and terrifying those moments were, not just for officers, but for the community.”
In a statement shared with KGO, San Jose Police Officers’ Association President Steve Slack praised officers for their response, calling the actions of the wounded sergeant and others “incredible bravery.”
“The incredible bravery exhibited by every officer, especially the SJPD sergeant who was shot and hospitalized after confronting the dangerous criminal, was on full display,” Slack said. He added the suspect “had no regard for anyone’s life and endangered hundreds of innocent people during his multiple-county crime spree.”
Police vehicles and officers block an intersection behind yellow tape after an officer-involved shooting and chase in San Jose, authorities said. (KTVU)
Slack said officers “ran toward gunfire and ultimately eliminated the threat,” adding the injured sergeant “is in good spirits, and we are supporting him and his family in every way we can.”
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said the officer’s first words after arriving at the hospital were, “Make sure someone takes care of my dogs,” calling it a reflection of the character of the department and the risks officers take to protect the community.
“That’s the kind of person he is,” Mahan said. “That’s the kind of people we have on our San Jose police force, people who put their lives on the line to protect our families during the day and then go home at night to take care of their own families.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
Fox News Digital reached out to the San Jose Police Department for comment.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
