A quiet residential stretch of Enright Avenue in Santa Clara was transformed into a sprawling crime scene Friday afternoon after a man was shot to death and a nearby home was engulfed in flames. The two events, which authorities believe occurred within minutes of each other, have left a tight-knit community searching for answers and a suspect still at large.
The Santa Clara Police Department responded to reports of a shooting around 12:30 p.m., where officers discovered a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Almost immediately following the shooting, emergency crews were called to a nearby residence to combat a structure fire, prompting a massive deployment of police and fire personnel that lasted for several hours.
While the identity of the victim has not been officially released by authorities, neighbors described him as a well-regarded father and an active member of the local community. The brutality of the attack was captured on surveillance footage, which has since become a central piece of the ongoing homicide and arson investigation.
A Sequence of Violence: From Driveway to Fire
According to surveillance video reviewed by investigators and ABC7 Eyewitness News, the incident began with a seemingly mundane interaction. The footage shows two men engaged in conversation in a driveway shortly after 12:30 p.m. The encounter turned lethal when one man produced a firearm and shot the other.
The video reveals a level of aggression that has shocked residents; after the initial shot caused the victim to fall, the assailant continued to fire, striking the man at least 10 more times before fleeing the scene. Minutes after the shooter departed, a fire broke out at a nearby home, which neighbors identified as a rental property. A man had reportedly been staying at that residence for approximately two weeks prior to the incident.
The rapid succession of the shooting and the fire created a chaotic environment for first responders, who had to manage a homicide investigation and a structure fire simultaneously in a residential zone.
| Time (Approx.) | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 p.m. | Fatal Shooting | Two men seen talking in driveway; victim shot 10+ times. |
| Minutes Later | Structure Fire | Nearby rental property catches fire; emergency response escalates. |
| Afternoon | Crime Scene Processing | Heavy equipment used to access fire site; armed officers search property. |
| Evening | Investigation Status | No suspects in custody; victim’s identity withheld. |
Community in Shock: ‘Like a Warzone’
For those living on Enright Avenue, the sudden arrival of tactical teams and heavy machinery was disorienting. Marilyn March, a local resident, described the initial confusion as she returned home to find the street swarmed by emergency vehicles.
“My husband and I thought they’re making a movie here because we saw the big black van and saw cameras,” March said. However, the reality became clear as heavily armed officers began searching the property and crews fought to extinguish the flames. “It looked like something from a warzone when that thing showed up,” she added.
The loss of the victim has hit the neighborhood particularly hard, as he was known to many through local school functions. Farid Davanloo, another neighbor, spoke of the victim’s family with warmth, noting that they were a “very nice family” who frequently attended school events.
The presence of children in the area added a layer of distress to the event. March noted the tragedy of such violence occurring in a place where “young people around, you know, kids play around.”
The Investigation and Search for a Suspect
As of Friday evening, the Santa Clara Police Department has not named a suspect, nor have they indicated whether the shooter and the victim were known to one another. The investigation is currently focused on three primary unknowns: the motive behind the execution-style shooting, the cause of the subsequent house fire, and the current location of the assailant.
Detectives are analyzing the surveillance footage to identify the suspect and the vehicle used in the escape. The fact that the fire occurred at a rental property occupied by a short-term resident is a key lead that investigators are pursuing to determine if the fire was an intentional act of arson designed to destroy evidence or a secondary crime.
Police have not yet confirmed if the person staying at the rental property is a suspect, a witness, or otherwise connected to the victim.
This report involves a violent crime. If you or a loved one are struggling with the aftermath of community violence, support is available through the National Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
The Santa Clara Police Department is expected to provide further updates as forensic evidence from the burning residence is processed and surveillance leads are followed. The next official checkpoint will be the release of the victim’s identity following the notification of next of kin.
Do you have information regarding this incident? Please contact the Santa Clara Police Department. Share this story to help spread the word and invite others to provide tips in the comments below.
