San Jose: Authorities identify stabbing suspect killed in officer-involved shooting

SAN JOSE – A stabbing suspect who was shot and killed by police officers near the SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday has been identified as 26-year-old Armando Salvatierra, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.

The San Jose Police Department, meanwhile, identified the four officers involved in the deadly confrontation as Thomas Barnard, Pete Christian, Oscar Medina and Armando Ramos.

The officers were called to North Autumn and Julian streets at 8:17 a.m. Sunday for a report of a stabbing, according to police. They arrived to find 51-year-old Lawrence Taylor suffering from multiple stab wounds in the middle of the intersection.

Police said Salvatierra was also found at the scene holding a knife. The officers ordered him to drop the weapon, and Christian fired less-lethal beanbag rounds at him when he moved toward them, according to police. The rounds brought Salvatierra to a knee, but police said he continued to advance. That’s when Barnard, Medina and Ramos opened fire with their service weapons, hitting Salvatierra multiple times.

Taylor and Salvatierra were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Barnard has 19 years of service with the department, Ramos has six years and Medina has eight months. They have been placed on routine paid administrative leave.

There was no immediate evidence establishing a motive or any connection between Taylor and Salvatierra, who was both on probation for assault with a deadly weapon conviction and wanted on a felony warrant for the same offense, according to police.