Three suspects were arrested and two others remain at large in a two-day violent crime spree that crossed four Bay Area cities late last month, according to the San Jose Police Department.
The five men are suspected of multiple violent crimes, including a San Jose homicide as well as sexual assaults and armed robberies, all of which occurred at brothels at high-end apartment buildings between Sept. 27 and 28, police said.
The homicide occurred in San Jose on Sept. 28, when the suspects broke into an apartment, tied up two people, shot a man execution-style and left without taking anything, police said.
The men also are suspected of crimes in Fremont, Milpitas and South San Francisco, police said.
An Yan, 28, of Baldwin Park; Lin Tao, 27, of Monterey Park; and Panpan Huang, 36, of Chino were arrested at their Los Angeles County homes on Oct. 18, police said. They were booked into Los Angeles County Jail on suspicion of murder, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault.
Police said they are still searching for two more suspects. One is descibed as a Chinese male, 25-30 years old, about 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 160-170 pounds, with a shaved head; he was last seen wearing a blue school varsity-type jacket, with tan sleeves.
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The other is described as a Chinese male, 35-38 years old, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing 250 pounds, with black, straight medium-length hair; he was last seen wearing black aviator sun glasses, a black T-shirt, black shorts and black tennis shoes.
They believe the five men targeted the locations because they're working brothels.
"They know that a lot of times there's cash on hand," San Jose police spokeswoman Officer Gina Tepoorten said.
People who live at the San Jose apartment complex where a person was killed found it hard to believe such violent crimes were occurring in such close proximity.
"I am surprised quite honestly," Vivek Surabaneni said. "I've lived in this area, but not in these apartments, and I've never heard of anything like this, at least to this degree."
Police believe there may be more victims. Anyone who might recognize the suspects or who have information about the cases is urged to contact Detective Sgt. Raul Martinez or Detective Brian Meeker of the San Jose Police Department's Homicide Unit at (408) 277-5283. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line, (408) 947-STOP (7867).
