Suspect In Fatal San Jose Police Shooting Connected To SJSU Murders
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - The suspect killed in a recent officer-involved shooting was responsible for the murders of two former San Jose State University students, San Jose police said Tuesday.
Ballistics tests show the weapon brandished by Ricardo Moreno when he was shot and killed by San Jose police near the Central County Occupational Center on Oct. 10 was the same one used in the double homicide two days before, said Lt. Allen Cavallo.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
Moreno apparently bought marijuana and methamphetamine at the residence of 21-year-old Eric Otokawa. He and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Kristina Pandula were found shot in the 800 block of South Third Street on Oct. 8.
"The only connection that we can find is narcotics-related. The victim at the Third Street address was selling narcotics and the suspect that was shot on Hillsdale was a user and a purchaser," Cavallo said.
Police encountered Moreno bare chested and brandishing a gun. A police officer opened fire after Moreno did not obey commands to drop the weapon.
There have been six officer-involved shootings in San Jose this year compared to four in 2010.
Although San Jose police quickly released the name of the officer responsible for Moreno's death, they delayed publicly identifying Moreno in order to investigate his connection to the double homicide.
Cavalllo said the two murder victims met while both were enrolled at San Jose State University.
A university spokeswoman said Pandula was a pre-nursing student associated with the Delta Gamma sorority who was last enrolled in classes over the summer, and Otokawa had yet to declare a major when he stopped taking classes last spring.
San Jose has recorded 39 homicides this year. The city saw just 20 the year before.
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