police gunSan José — A man, whose identity has not yet been released, was fatally shot by deputies from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office after a traffic stop escalated into a prolonged standoff and he allegedly charged at deputies with a knife. 

Incident Details

At around 7:30 p.m, deputies stopped a vehicle near Fruitdale Avenue and Leigh Avenue for a traffic stop, though the exact reason for it has not been specified by authorities. Deputies say the driver began behaving erratically and refused to comply, barricading himself inside the vehicle. During a standoff, deputies say they attempted to communicate with the man by phone and deployed pepper balls and rubber bullets to coax him out the vehicle. Eventually, the man exited the vehicle holding a knife and proceeded to charge toward deputies,  at which point deputies discharged their firearms at him. He was then transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:16 p.m. 

The San José Police Department is leading the scene investigation, while the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent review of the use-of-force decision.

Legal Considerations

  • Key questions for investigators include whether the threat justified deadly force under California Penal Code § 835a, whether de-escalation efforts were exhausted, and whether the deputies’ training and policy compliance were appropriate.

  • If evidence emerges that the decedent’s constitutional rights were violated—such as failure to protect against his serious medical or mental-health needs—the case may trigger civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Seeking Accountability for Officer-Involved Shootings

If you were a witness, were present, or are connected to this incident:

  • Request public records: incident and arrest reports, video or body-worn camera footage, dispatch logs, internal review documents.

  • Safeguard any personal footage, photos, or eyewitness information you may have.

  • Consult a civil-rights attorney if you believe the force may have been excessive, or if standard protocols were not followed.

If you or a loved one has been impacted by police misconduct or an in-custody incident such as this one in San Jose, contact The Sehat Law Firm at (949) 825-5200 for a free consultation, or complete the form at the bottom of this page to discuss your case with our legal team.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and should not be considered legal or medical advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary, and any referenced here may not apply to your situation. This article was created from secondary sources and may not be completely accurate, especially as more facts are revealed from the investigation. If you have any concerns, please contact us, and we’ll update or remove the post as needed.