Four suspects arrested in fatal downtown stabbing

SAN JOSE >> Four suspects have been arrested in connection with a recent fatal stabbing in downtown San Jose, police announced Friday.

In a news release, San Jose police identified three of the suspects as 40-yearold Manuel Avila, 25-yearold Gregor y Messenger and 45- year- old Cynthia Alvarez, all of San Jose. On Saturday, police announced the arrest of a fourth suspect, 34- yearold San Jose resident Fernando Vargas.

The stabbing was reported in the 100 block of North 6th Street about 5:10 a. m. on Monday. Off icers a r r ived to find 39-year- old San Jose resident David Perez suffering from at least one stab wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he died a short time later.

The death marked the city’s 29th homicide of the year.

Police said an “extensive follow- up investigation” by homicide detectives led to the identification of the suspects. The detectives obtained warrants for the suspects, and the police department’s Covert Response Unit arrested all three in Milpitas on Tuesday.

T he suspects were booked into Santa Clara County jail on murder charges. They are being held without bail; Avila, Messenger and Varga s are at the Main Jail in San Jose and Alvarez is at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, according to online jail records.

Police are boosting patrols this weekend in response to the stabbing, as well as an unrelated driveby shooting near 8th and Reed streets on Sept. 15 that killed two men and injured four other people.

Anyone with information about the stabbing can call 408- 27 7- 5283, or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408- 947-7867 or at svcrimestoppers.org.