3 teens arrested after striking SJPD officer with car, sparking renewed youth violence discussions
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A case involving three teenage suspects, a stolen SUV and a police shooting in San Jose has prompted renewed discussion about youth violence and crime prevention efforts in the city.
Before 3 a.m. Monday, San Jose police stopped an SUV near North 21st and Santa Clara streets that was later determined to be an unreported stolen vehicle. According to police, the driver struck an officer with the SUV as officers approached the car. A second officer fired one round from a department-issued handgun.
The SUV fled the scene, and the officer who was struck suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the San Jose Police Department.
Police later located the SUV in the area of Lucretia Avenue and Tully Road with the assistance of Automated License Plate Reader cameras. Officers subsequently found three juvenile suspects, ages 14, 14 and 16, hiding nearby after receiving a report of an attempted carjacking involving three males matching the suspects' descriptions.
Police said none of the juveniles were struck by gunfire.
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A 14-year-old suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle. The other two juveniles were booked on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Mayor Matt Mahan said the ages of the suspects were particularly troubling.
"Whether as victims or as perpetrators, it just breaks my heart," Mahan said. "It's just a horrific thing."
The case has sparked broader conversations about youth behavior and intervention efforts.
Dr. Shivani Chmura, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist with Palo Alto Wellness, said teenagers are more likely to engage in risky behavior but described this case as something more serious.
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"They know what they're doing most likely is wrong, which is shown here by them running," Chmura said. "This was beyond just risky behavior by adolescents. This was a concerted, escalating violence with disregard for the safety of themselves and for the people involved."
Chmura said understanding what led the juveniles to commit the alleged crimes will be important.
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"Understanding why they committed the crime is going to be very important in designing what the consequences should be," she said.
Mahan said San Jose is investing $7 million this year in programs aimed at helping at-risk youth.
"We run afterschool gyms. We have youth jobs. We do tattoo removal," he said.
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The mayor said an additional $3 million will be directed toward Mayfair and Seven Trees, which he described as neighborhoods with the lowest school performance and highest crime rates.
"This is part of our Children and Youth Master Plan," Mahan said. According to Mahan, the funding will support childcare, high-dosage tutoring and other prevention-focused programs.
"Our hope is not to have to respond to crime. We want to prevent crime," he said.
The shooting remains under investigation.
