SAN JOSE — A shooting at the Valley Transportation Authority’s Chaboya Division Yard left a VTA employee dead Friday evening, an event which immediately echoed the 2021 mass shooting at a VTA rail yard.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office was actively investigating the shooting, which took place at the Chaboya Division Parking lot at 2240 South 7th Street in San Jose. A 911 call at around 9:40 p.m. Friday evening alerted authorities to the incident; San Jose Fire Department personnel and county emergency services arrived to the scene and declared the male victim dead after suffering at least one gunshot wound in what officials believe was an isolated incident, said Brooks Jarosz, senior communications officer for the Sheriff’s Office, in an email.
The victim’s name will be publicly released after officials confirm their identity and inform their next of kin.
Authorities did not announce any arrests Saturday morning or release any information on a suspect or suspects in the shooting.
“The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what appears to be an isolated incident, and VTA has no further information at this time to report,” VTA General Manager and CEO Carolyn Gonot said during a press briefing late Saturday morning. “We have been providing information to employees and our board and providing mental health services.”
VTA employees have been left in shock and confusion, Amalgamated Transit Union President Raj Singh said Saturday. Some employees were getting off of work at the time of the shooting, Singh said, while others learned of the incident in texts.
He encouraged employees to take advantage of mental health resources as more information is gathered.
“Let’s be patient and let law enforcement do their job,” Singh said. “For those of you that might be sitting there looking for answers. I just want you to know you’re not alone. We have resources available at the division.”
In addition to offering mental health resources, Santa Clara Supervisor Cindy Chavez, who also chairs the Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors, said security is also being increased at yards over the weekend. She also encouraged the public to continue using public transit, reiterating that officials believe the shooting was isolated.
“While we do believe this is an isolated incident, we want them to feel safe,” Chavez said. “We really are protecting each other and thinking very critically about our next steps as a community.”
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 408-808-4500 or to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services anonymous tip line at 408-808-4431.
This is a developing report. Check back for updates.
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