FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Suspect Michael Alvarez

IN-CUSTODY

On September 2, 2025, at approximately 12:52 AM, San José Police Department Patrol Officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon that occurred in the 400 block of Minnesota Avenue. Responding Officers located spent bullet casings and evidence of the crime, but the victims and suspect were gone prior to police arrival. During the preliminary investigation, Officers located the victims and the vehicle they fled in, which was riddled with bullet holes. The investigation revealed that the two adult victims, one male and one female, were in an altercation with the adult male suspect when he produced a firearm and shot at the victims multiple times. The adult male victim was shot at least once, and transported to a local hospital for treatment. The adult female victim was fortunately uninjured.

SJPD Assaults Unit Detectives began a comprehensive investigation into the incident and identified the suspect as Michael Alvarez. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Suspect Alvarez and a search warrant for his associated residence.

On October 8, 2025, while attempting to serve the arrest and search warrants, Suspect Alvarez barricaded in a residence in the area of Willow Street and Minnesota Avenue. SJPD Special Operations Unit responded to the scene and utilized a chemical agent to persuade the suspect to safely surrender. Eventually, Suspect Alvarez was apprehended and taken into custody.

During the execution of the search warrant at the associated residence, SJPD located a loaded privately made firearm, ammunition, a 3-D printer used to manufacture firearms, and various narcotics.

Suspect Alvarez was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for various crimes including attempted murder, as well as firearm and narcotics-related crimes. 

The apprehension and arrest was made possible with the assistance of the following: the SJPD Special Operations Unit, including MERGE Unit, VCET Unit, METRO, Street Crimes Unit, Downtown Services Unit, Bomb Squad, and K-9 Unit; the SJPD Gang Investigations Unit, Financial Crimes Unit, Sexual Assaults Investigation Unit, Tactical Negotiations Unit, Covert Response Unit, SJPD Patrol, and the San José Fire Department.

Anyone with information about this case or similar cases is asked to contact Detective Nishimura #4732 of the San José Police Department Assaults Unit via email: 4732@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4161.

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.