After an early morning foot chase in East San Jose Friday, a police officer shot and killed a man in the city's 8th officer-involved shooting this year.
Officer Lee Tassio, a nine-year veteran of the force, was patrolling with his partner when they noticed 24-year-old Manuel Fuentes drinking beer in public, a municipal code violation.
Fuentes allegedly ran when officers tried to make contact with him, according to a release. They chased him into a house in the 2100 block of Inman Way, where officer Tassio pushed Fuentes to the ground.
Then Fuentes allegedly pulled out a hand gun from his waistband and tossed it into a nearby bedroom.
Another San Jose resident, 47-year-old Valente Galindo, was in the bedroom and allegedly picked up the handgun, pointing it toward officer Tassio despite verbal orders to drop the gun.
Officer Tassio then allegedly fired one round in self defense, hitting Galindo. Galindo was taken to Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 12:13 a.m.
Fuentes was booked into jail on suspicion of resisting arrest and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This marks San Jose's 4th fatal officer-involved shooting this year.
Both officers at the scene were placed on paid administrative leave while the department's homicide unit investigates the shooting.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact the city's homicide unit at (408) 277-5283, or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
