Police arrest suspect accused of killing two, injuring another three in church stabbing

San Jose police arrested a male suspect in connection with a stabbing Sunday at Grace Baptist Church where two victims died and three were hospitalized.

Police responded to the church located at 484 E. San Fernando St., one block away from San Jose State University, shortly before 8 p.m. and located five victims suffering from at least one stab wound each.

At the time, no religious services were being held and the church opened up its doors to unhoused residents of San Jose because of the cold weather. Usually, the church’s homeless program runs from January to April but was opened earlier because of Covid-19.

The first victim was a man who died on the scene and the second was a woman who succumbed to her injuries after being transported to a hospital, police said. The three victims who remain in the hospital are all men and are in serious but stable condition, police said.

The name of the suspect arrested for the stabbing has not been released by police.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said:

“Our hearts are torn for the victims and their loved ones in last night’s horrific stabbing at Grace Baptist Church on 10th Street. We have lost two community members, and we pray for the recovery of the three others seriously injured in that attack.”

The deaths mark the city’s 40 and 41st homicides of 2020. The victims’ identities will be released by the Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office after confirming their identities and notifying next of kin.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Sergeant Lewis #3161 or Detective Meeker #3272 of the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide unit at (408) 277-5283.

People can also leave anonymous tips by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at (408) 947-7867.