FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Suspect Mohamed Husien

DECEASED

On January 21, 2026, at approximately 2:01 PM, San José Police Department Patrol Officers responded to a report of an armed carjacking that occurred at a car dealership in the 900 block of Capitol Expressway. An adult male suspect brandished a firearm at an employee, stole a vehicle and fled the scene prior to police arrival.

With the assistance of the SJPD helicopter, AIR 3, Patrol Officers were able to locate the suspect traveling southbound, out of San José jurisdiction. The suspect location was eventually tracked to the city of Hollister where Hollister Police Department Officers and San Benito County Sheriff Deputies were notified. AIR 3 continued to broadcast updates to responding outside agencies who engaged in a slow-speed pursuit that ended when the vehicle became disabled. The suspect then exited the vehicle, while armed with a handgun, and an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect fled and was located again where a second officer-involved shooting occurred. SJPD Officers were not involved in either incident.

The suspect then committed a subsequent armed carjacking and fled the city of Hollister in a second stolen vehicle. Officers from multiple agencies pursued the suspect as he drove at high speeds on the freeway, returning to the city of San José, at which point SJPD Officers assumed control of the pursuit on city streets.

At approximately 3:53 PM, the suspect collided with a stopped vehicle near the intersection of Julian Street and Notre Dame Avenue. After the collision, the suspect exited his vehicle and charged at an arriving San José Police Sergeant, immediately firing multiple rounds as the Sergeant exited his patrol vehicle. The Sergeant was struck in the head by the suspect's gunfire, fracturing his skull.

The suspect subsequently attempted to carjack an SJPD patrol vehicle, then exited and fled on foot at which point he fell to the ground as officers fired at him. The suspect was then struck by a responding patrol vehicle. The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Sergeant was critically injured and taken to a local hospital by Patrol Officers, and injuries were later determined to be non-life threatening.

The suspect was identified as thirty-year-old Mohamed Husien. Suspect Husien, who was in possession of a firearm with an extended magazine, is prohibited from owning firearms as a convicted felon.

During a subsequent investigation, SJPD Detectives discovered that Suspect Husien had engaged in a crime spree the weekend prior, spanning from armed carjackings to armed robberies in multiple jurisdictions.

"Every officer involved in yesterday's harrowing incident will carry the heaviness of what happened for the rest of their lives," stated SJPD Chief Paul Joseph. "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."

“Like our entire police force, this Sergeant puts his life on the line every day — and yesterday, it was almost taken from him,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “I’m grateful for his courage and praying for his swift recovery.”

“To see one of our dedicated public servants injured while serving the community is deeply upsetting, and any act of violence toward anyone in our community is deplorable,” said San José City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “Thank to Chief Paul Joseph, the entire San José Police Department, and all our partner agencies that were involved for their heroic actions in the events that occurred yesterday. Our officers risk their lives every day to serve the community, and I truly appreciate each and every one of them, not only as City Manager, but also as a member of this community. My thoughts are with the sergeant and his family.”

This was the San José Police Department's first Officer Involved Shooting of 2026.

Three Sergeants and six officers were involved in the use of force during this incident. Their experience ranges from four to nineteen years of service. All of their department issued body-worn cameras were activated at the time of the shooting. As with all SJPD officer-involved shootings, a thorough investigation is being conducted by the Department’s Homicide Unit and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. The incident is also being reviewed administratively by SJPD Internal Affairs, the City Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Independent Police Auditor.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Martinez #4117 and/or Detective Sergeant Varela #3638 of the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit via email: 4117@sanjoseca.gov and/or 3638@sanjoseca.gov, or at 408-277-5283.

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.