Chief Paul Joseph says the suspect fired first, a sergeant was hit in the head, and parallel reviews of the force are underway.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose police on Thursday detailed a downtown shooting that ended a dayslong crime spree and identified the man killed by officers as 30-year-old Mohamed Husien of Davis. The clash unfolded around 4 p.m. Wednesday near West Julian Street and Notre Dame Avenue, where a police sergeant was shot in the head during an exchange of gunfire.
Investigators said the pursuit began after a green Corvette was taken at gunpoint from a San Jose dealership earlier Wednesday, part of a series of carjackings and robberies that started the prior weekend. Officers tracked the car into Hollister, where local police confronted the suspect. After switching vehicles, the suspect headed back toward San Jose with patrol cars and an airborne unit following. Downtown, the vehicle crashed into traffic, the suspect ran with a handgun, and a flurry of shots followed as people ducked inside offices and apartments.
Police said nine members of the department used force at the scene, including three sergeants and six officers. All had body cameras activated, according to the department. Chief Paul Joseph said the suspect charged at a sergeant and fired, fracturing the sergeant’s skull. The sergeant and other officers shot back. During the pursuit and foot chase the suspect tried to enter a patrol vehicle, police said. The suspect was struck by gunfire and also hit by a responding police car before he was pronounced dead. The handgun recovered at the scene will undergo ballistics testing to compare against shell casings collected on the street and in vehicles.
Officials linked the suspect to earlier robberies in San Jose and to a vehicle theft at a Sacramento dealership days before the downtown shootout. Investigators say the same person took a red Corvette in Sacramento on Saturday, then committed additional crimes across several cities. By Wednesday afternoon, the case had drawn participation from the California Highway Patrol, San Benito County deputies, and Hollister police. Officers closed off portions of North San Pedro Street and nearby blocks through Thursday while crime scene technicians documented bullet strikes on storefront glass and several civilian cars that were hit by crossfire.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office opened a criminal review, while the San Jose Police Department’s homicide unit is leading the primary investigation. Separate administrative reviews are underway by internal affairs and the Office of the Independent Police Auditor, which will examine policy compliance and tactics. As required by department rules, all involved officers were placed on administrative leave pending interviews. Police said they expect to release body camera footage after initial statements and evidence collection. An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death, and the department has not released a total count of rounds fired or the number of times the suspect was struck.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the city core. Office workers recorded videos from high-rise windows as gunfire echoed between buildings. A commuter who came upon the aftermath said cars were stopped at angles with windows missing and airbags deployed. By Thursday afternoon, the injured sergeant had been released from the hospital and was said to be in good spirits. City crews swept glass from intersections as detectives continued canvas interviews, including with business owners whose security cameras may offer additional angles on the moment the sergeant was hit.
Police said most streets reopened by evening, while laboratory tests and interviews will continue through the week. Officials said the next public update is expected after body camera reviews and preliminary lab results, which could clarify the split-second sequence around the crash and the first shots.
Author note: Last updated January 26, 2026.