Body found inside Santa Clara home that caught fire minutes after deadly shooting, police say
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A body was found inside a burned residence in Santa Clara hours after a fatal shooting nearby, police said Saturday.
The remains were first located with the help of drones Friday night inside the rear of the structure on Enright Avenue, police said.
Investigators reached the body about 11 a.m. Saturday when the residence, which suffered significant structural damage, was determined safe to enter, police said.
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The structure fire was reported Friday after police were called about 12:30 p.m. to a home in the 600 block of Enright Avenue, where a man was found fatally shot outdoors. Minutes later, a nearby house caught fire, prompting a large emergency response.
Authorities believe the shooting and fire happened minutes apart.
Surveillance video viewed by our ABC7 Eyewitness News team from across the street shows two men talking in a driveway around 12:30 p.m. Friday. One man then pulls out a gun and shoots the other, who falls to the ground. The victim is shot at least 10 more times before the suspect runs away.
ABC7 Eyewitness news was able to confirm through surveillance video that a man was shot in front of a house on Friday.
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"I heard the gunshots. I came out and they were here. The house was on fire, so I thought that's what it was, the explosions for fire the house," says Richard Schoolcraft, on Saturday, who lives nearby the crime scene.
Neighbors spent much of Saturday in front of the taped off street hoping for answers. Many say they know the man who was shot, and his family. But still no official word on his identity.
"This is really, really devastating for us here. We don't have stuff like this happen here. Last time I heard anything was 40 years ago!" says Schoolcraft.
Santa Clara Police used drones to locate a body in the back of the burned house that caught fire just minutes after the shooting. But it was only safe for officials to approach the body on Saturday morning.
Police called it a "targeted attack." But did not specify if that is in reference to the shooting or the fire, or both. The motive is also unknown. But police did say there is no further threat to public.
"Yesterday at 12:21 p.m. I heard gunshots. I called 911 by 12:22 p.m. And by 12:27 p.m. the street was filed with police. And the house caught fire. So, that was a lot to happen in less than 10 minutes," explains Chris Martinez, who also lives in the neighborhood.
Martinez says police told residents to stay in their house and lock the door.
"We didn't know where the guy (shooter) was. We didn't know if he was jumping in the back of houses or doing anything like that. we just had to sit down and wait," says Martinez.
The motive and circumstances are still under investigation, police said.
Police have not announced an official connection between the shooting and the house fire.
Police have not announced any suspects in custody, nor have they announced the identities of the shooting victim or the body found inside in the burned house.
Neighbors who spoke with ABC7 Eyewitness News identified the shooting victim as a father known in the community.
Anyone with information related to the case was asked to contact Detective Sergeant Bell at (408) 615-4814 or DBell@santaclaraca.gov. Anonymous messages can be left at (408) 615-4847.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
