Santa Clara County

3 victims killed in South Bay crime spree identified

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The three victims in a deadly crime spree in San Jose and Milpitas on Thursday were identified Tuesday by the Santa Clara County coroner.

Phuc Pham, 71, and Nguyen Pham, 72, both of San Jose and Jiwanjot Dhariwal, 26, of Milpitas were killed when a man went on a violent spree where he stabbed multiple victims and struck multiple pedestrians with a vehicle.

Suspect Kevin Parkourana is being held with no bail at the Santa Clara County main jail. Police said he is charged with multiple counts of homicide, attempted homicide and carjacking connected to the violent crime spree that also injured several others.

Parkourana was supposed to make his first appearance in court Tuesday, but the 31-year-old refused to leave his cell.

Even though the suspect refused to be transported to court, prosecutors still filed charges against him in this highly-unusual case spanning two cities.

Police said Parkourana began his rampage last Thursday afternoon near Kooser Road when he carjacked a man's minivan and stabbed him several times in the neck and chest.

In less than three hours, Parkourana was accused of another carjacking and stabbing, driving into the Pham couple and killing them. And fatally stabbing Dhariwal in a Milpitas parking lot.

The suspect is also accused of several counts of attempted murder including driving an SUV into the back of motorcyclist Wynton Waldorf near Curtner avenue. The 67-year-old victim was in court Tuesday to watch the proceedings. 

The man accused of a deadly killing spree in San Jose and Milpitas on Friday is due to make his first court appearance on Tuesday. Kris Sanchez reports.

"All of a sudden the rear of my bike got jacked way up in the air, and I flew to the handlebars," he said. "The bike went down to the right, I went to the left and got wedged underneath the car in front of me and I know that sounds bad but I think that might have been what saved my life. I was under the car, what's to stop him from getting down and murdering me too."

Parkourana had a history of mental illness and Santa Clara County District attorney, Jeff Rosen  acknowledged it is possible the suspects legal team may pursue a mental health defense. But he says that won't deter prosecutors.

“We continue to investigate as the case moves forward, and we are confident that the defendant knew what he was doing when he did it,” said Rosen.

He has a criminal history with prior convictions of felony vandalism, felony possession of a dagger, and for being in possession of an explosive device, a pipe bomb, according to court records.

If convicted, the DA said Parkourana will be off the streets for good.

“Given the charges that I have filed against this defendant, which includes special circumstances, he will spend the rest of his life in prison and die there,” he said.

The judge ordered Parkourana to show up in court for arraignment on Thursday.

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