San Jose, CA: Murder-Suicide Now Suspected In SJ Double Shooting

2 Found Shot Dead In San Jose Townhouse
(5/19/2010)
San Jose police were investigating what they believed to be a murder-suicide at an East San Jose townhouse Wednesday afternoon and have released the name of the apparent victim.

The bodies of a man and woman were discovered inside a townhouse in the 100 block of Rose Lane, near Capitol Expressway, about 3:30 p.m. after a nearly four-hour police response sparked by a report of a disturbance.

Both had been shot, police said.

Police spokesman Dirk Parsons identified the woman Wednesday as 30-year-old Miriam Olivo. The name of the man, who is believed to be the shooter, has not been released.

Officers responded to the neighborhood shortly before noon after the suspect showed up at a unit of the two-story townhouse holding a Bible and a gun, Parsons said.

One of three witnesses -- two females and one male, who were inside the unit at the time -- said the suspect and Olivo had been dating for a few months but that last weekend Olivo had told him she wanted a break from the relationship, Parsons said.

The suspect told Olivo he wanted to talk to her. The witnesses left the townhouse and called 911.

Police arrived and began evacuating nearby homes. As officers walked along the rear of the townhouse looking for the unit, they heard the suspect yell out his location.

The officers went to the front of the building and tried to communicate with Olivo and the suspect from the driveway, Parsons said.

One officer looked up to the second-floor window and saw the suspect holding a gun to his head and repeatedly telling the officer that he was going to kill himself, Parsons said.

The officer took cover but continued to negotiate with the man. The suspect, however, disappeared and Olivo then appeared in the window, Parsons said. She told the officer that she was okay, but when the officer tried engaging her in conversation, she moved away from the window, Parsons said.

A short time later, two gunshots were fired. Officers continued trying to communicate with the people inside. When they entered the home at about 3:30 p.m., they found Olivo and the shooter dead.

Autopsies for both Olivo and the suspect were being conducted Thursday.