On June 1, 2026, at approximately 2:41 PM, San José Police Department Patrol Officers responded to a report of a shooting that occurred in neighborhood located in the area of Lavander Avenue and Palmia Drive. Upon arrival, Patrol Officers did not locate a suspect, but found multiple shell casings and an unoccupied vehicle which had been struck multiple times by gunfire. The preliminary investigation revealed the shooting to be gang-motivated.

SJPD Gang Investigations Unit (GIU) Detectives began a thorough and comprehensive investigation. During the investigation, Detectives obtained evidence identifying Tye Mendoza as the primary suspect.

GIU Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Suspect Mendoza and a search warrant for his associated residence.

On August 11, 2026, with the assistance of SJPD Covert Response Unit (CRU), Detectives located and arrested Suspect Mendoza in the city of San José. While serving the search warrant at his residence, Detectives located a loaded privately made short-barreled rifle and a loaded semi-automatic pistol.

Suspect Mendoza was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for multiple crimes including assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into a vehicle, and multiple firearm-related crimes.

Anyone with information about this case or similar cases is asked to contact Detective Moreno #4882 of the San José Police Department Gang Investigations Unit via email at 4882@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-3835.

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