SAN JOSE — A 46-year-old San Jose man has been arrested in connection with a double-fatal shooting at a gambling den roughly a month and a half ago in San Jose, police said.
Officers found the victims inside a commercial building in the 700 block of East Santa Clara Street on March 12 while responding to a report of a shooting, San Jose police Sgt. Jorge Garibay said in a news release. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office identified the victims as 56-year-old Sunnyvale resident Eddie Leon and 41-year-old San Jose resident Oscar Herrera Salgado. Their deaths marked the fifth and sixth homicides of the year in San Jose.
Garibay said an investigation revealed the commercial building was operating as an illicit gambling establishment. Detectives also identified the suspect as Gustavo Rodriguez and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Rodriguez was found Monday in San Jose. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into Santa Clara County jail.
The motive and circumstances surrounding the killings remain under investigation, Garibay said.
The arrest comes amid a crackdown on gambling dens in the city. Garibay said warrants were served Tuesday at two commercial buildings, located in the 1800 block of Alum Rock Avenue and the 3800 block of Monterey Road, and at two homes, located in the 4300 block of Alum Rock Avenue and the 200 block of Senter Road.
Detectives arrested 13 people, as well as seized 45 gaming machines, drugs and more than $3,000 in cash, Garibay said.
“Illegal gambling operations are not victimless crimes,” San Jose police Chief Paul Joseph said in a statement. “They create environments where violence thrives and put innocent lives at risk. This operation reflects our commitment to aggressively pursue those who operate outside the law and threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”
Anyone with information related to the double-fatal shooting can call the SJPD Homicide Unit at 408-277-5283 or email Detective Sgt. Ivan Barragan at 4106@sanjoseca.gov or Detective Mike Harrington at 4365@sanjoseca.gov. Tips can also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7857 or at siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.
