San Jose police have confirmed that the suspect and victim who both died in Monday's standoff in a town home complex had recently been involved in a custody case where the mother, the victim, was ultimately awarded custody of the pair's 9-year-old daughter.
That little girl was found in the middle of the street early Monday morning and was rescued by a neighbor who took her into his home until police arrived.
Another man escaped the home with a gunshot wound to his ear.
Investigators have yet to confirm a motive, or whether the tragedy can be considered a murder-suicide, according to Officer Jermaine Thomas, a police spokesman. However police believe the suspect, Jianming Liang was upset by the verdict, Thomas said.
Police believe Liang, 39, traveled to San Jose from Southern California three days before he entered the town home that the victim, Ying He, 35, shared with her daughter and husband, also 35.
Liang apparently entered the town home in the new Montecito Vista development armed with a semi-automatic pistol shortly after 8:30 a.m. Monday. Police received a 911 call reporting gunshots at 8:39 a.m. and arrived 10 minutes later, Thomas said. He's daughter escaped the house, as did her husband after sustaining a minor gunshot wound.
Police established a perimeter around the home and attempted to communicate with Liang and He throughout the day, Thomas said. However they were not successful. It is possible the pair were dead by the time police arrived, Thomas said. However he declined to say that scenario was the likely one.
Around 2:30 p.m., tactical officers entered the house and found He and Liang both dead from gunshot wounds. Officers found the hostage and his victim in different parts of the house, Thomas said. The victim had been shot multiple times.
