San Jose Police Department Press Release Re: Anthony Chavez Killed in Shootout After Shooting Police Officer
On August 25, 2026, at approximately 12:31 PM, San José Police Department Robbery Unit Detectives located a wanted vehicle operated by an adult male suspect, later identified as Anthony Chavez, who committed two separate armed robberies in the city of San José over the weekend. The armed robberies occurred on August 22, 2026 outside of a bank located in the 500 block of West Capitol Expressway and on August 23, 2026 at a shopping center located in the 100 block of Curtner Avenue. In both incidents, Suspect Chavez brandished a long gun at the victims and took cash and miscellaneous items before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
Surveillance of Suspect Brandishing a Firearm in a Parking Lot
During the commission of the armed robberies, Suspect Chavez was operating a 2003 gold Chevrolet Tahoe, which was reported stolen on August 16, 2026 in the city of San José. The suspect repeatedly changed the vehicle’s license plate, affixing multiple different stolen plates to avoid detection by law enforcement.
On August 25, 2026, shortly after the vehicle was located, SJPD Special Operations MERGE Officers responded to the scene. With the assistance of the SJPD helicopter AIR 3, the SJPD Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) and the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras and public safety cameras, and the Santa Clara County Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATTF), Officers began monitoring the suspect vehicle’s direction of travel. Officers then attempted to conduct a vehicle enforcement stop, at which point Suspect Chavez fled the scene. During the pursuit of the vehicle, Suspect Chavez brandished a firearm at Officers.
Suspect Chavez subsequently abandoned the vehicle in the area of Goodyear Street and Lick Avenue after it became disabled from colliding with at least one parked vehicle. The suspect then fled into a nearby residence, which was occupied by a family with at least one juvenile. Officers made crisis entry into the residence to ensure the safety of the occupants and encountered Suspect Chavez hiding inside.
Suspect Chavez produced a firearm and shot at two Officers, striking one Officer at least once. The Officer was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and later stabilized.
Suspect Chavez was also shot at least once and was pronounced deceased on the scene. During the investigation, a silver revolver was recovered at the scene.
“Any police officer can have an encounter suddenly turn violent,” stated SJPD Chief of Police Paul Joseph. ” Our MERGE Officers, by contrast, are called primarily because violence has already occurred or is highly likely, and it takes an extraordinary person to willingly face that level of danger again and again. I am grateful for Sergeant Matt Walsh and his team for their dedication to protecting those who need them, even in the most volatile situations imaginable.”
“When the worst happens, our officers answer the call — whether it’s a 911 call from a resident who needs help, or a call over the radio that one of their own is down,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “Yesterday, they did both. They showed up for this city and they showed up for each other. For that, I want to thank our Chief and the entire department.”
“The City will support Sergeant Walsh through his recovery and stand with him and his family, loved ones and colleagues during this difficult time,” said San José City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “An officer-involved shooting is a serious and deeply impactful event, and its effects are felt throughout the organization — by the officers who responded, the dispatchers who heard the incident unfold, and all City employees who serve our community. I am grateful for the courage and commitment of the officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our residents. We should never take their sacrifice for granted.”
This was the San José Police Department’s second Officer Involved Shooting of 2026.
The injured Sergeant who is the supervisor of the MERGE Unit has nineteen years of experience with the San José Police Department. The second Officer involved in the incident has ten and a half years of experience with the San José Police Department. Both of their department issued body-worn cameras were activated at the time of the shooting. As with all SJPD officer-involved shootings, a thorough investigation is being conducted by the Department’s Homicide Unit and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. The incident is also being reviewed administratively by SJPD Internal Affairs, the City Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Independent Police Auditor.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Varela #3638 and/or Detective Montoya #3644 of the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit via email: 3638@sanjoseca.gov and/or 3644@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-277-5283.