Shooting Report — Edgard Altamirano Murder-Suicide | San Jose, CA | El Paseo de Saratoga Parking Lot Shooting
SAN JOSE, California — February 24, 2026 — A fatal shooting and subsequent murder-suicide occurred in a commercial parking lot in West San Jose, prompting a homicide investigation by the San José Police Department. The incident left two adults dead, including the shooter and his former partner, in what authorities believe was an emotionally driven, isolated confrontation. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Incident Summary — El Paseo de Saratoga Murder-Suicide
On Tuesday morning, February 24, 2026, at approximately 11:38 a.m., San Jose police responded to emergency calls reporting gunshots in the El Paseo de Saratoga parking lot, located in West San Jose near Saratoga and Campbell avenues — a busy commercial area that includes several retail outlets and service businesses. (San Francisco Chronicle)
When officers and emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, they found two adults on the ground in the shopping center parking lot, both suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Medical responders pronounced both individuals dead at the scene before transportation to local hospitals could be undertaken. (San Francisco Chronicle)
The incident has been classified as San Jose’s fourth homicide of 2026. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Identification of Victims and Shooter
Police investigators later identified the shooter as 43-year-old Edgard Altamirano, a San Jose resident. Law enforcement indicated that Altamirano engaged in a lethal confrontation with a 24-year-old woman, whom he fatally shot multiple times, before turning the firearm on himself and committing suicide at the same location. (San Francisco Chronicle)
The identity of the 24-year-old female victim has not been released publicly by authorities, pending formal family notification. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Preliminary Investigation Findings
According to initial investigative reports, detectives believe the shooting stemmed from a past dating relationship between Altamirano and the female victim that had ended several months earlier. Police state that Altamirano confronted the woman in the shopping center parking lot, shot her on sight, and subsequently took his own life with the same firearm recovered at the scene. (San Francisco Chronicle)
San Jose police homicide detectives have described the shooting as an isolated domestic incident, with no indication of an ongoing public threat. Authorities have noted that there were no prior police contacts on record relating to domestic violence or intimate partner disturbances between the two individuals. (NBC Bay Area)
The handgun used in the shooting was reportedly legally registered to Altamirano, according to preliminary documentation released by law enforcement. (NBC Bay Area)
Crime Scene and Evidence Collection
Officers secured the area around the El Paseo de Saratoga parking lot, including the vicinity of a European Wax Center location where witnesses noted the shooting occurred. Forensic units processed the scene, documenting shell casings, ballistic evidence, and the recovered firearm for further analysis. (Yahoo)
Portions of the parking lot were temporarily closed during the afternoon as detectives interviewed bystanders and collected additional physical and testimonial evidence. Local businesses in the center experienced minimal interruption as the scene was cleared later in the day. (Lawyer Herald)
Public Safety and Investigation Status
The San José Police Department confirms that the murder-suicide appears to have been a targeted act directed specifically at the victim by the shooter, with no reported threat to bystanders or the broader community during or after the incident. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Police continue to investigate the motive and circumstances that led to the fatal confrontation. Detectives have reached out to potential witnesses, friends, family, and coworkers to better understand the history between the suspect and the victim. (NBC Bay Area)
Authorities are appealing for anyone with information related to the case to come forward. Individuals with details are asked to contact Detective Sergeant Martinez or Detective Jize of the San José Police Department Homicide Unit via phone at (408) 277-5283 or by email, as provided by the department. (ABC7 San Francisco)
Context and Community Reaction
Witnesses in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing the scene unfold near lunchtime traffic, prompting immediate 911 calls. Some witnesses reported hearing approximately seven rounds fired before police arrival. (Lawyer Herald)
Local residents and business owners in West San Jose expressed shock and concern following the incident. The shooting has reignited conversations around domestic violence awareness, mental health resources, and public safety measures in commercial zones. (NBC Bay Area)
Conclusion
The Edgard Altamirano murder-suicide shooting in the parking lot of the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center in San Jose stands as a tragic example of intimate partner violence ending in both homicide and suicide. Law enforcement continues its investigation into the motive and circumstances after Altamirano fatally shot his former partner and then himself on February 24, 2026. (San Francisco Chronicle)
No ongoing threat to the public has been identified, and authorities encourage anyone with relevant information to contact the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit for further assistance. (ABC7 San Francisco)
