Family Mourns Victim Of San Jose Hit-And-Run Homicide
SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) -- San Jose police are searching for the driver who intentionally mowed down a school custodian Sunday, and injured two others, in a dispute that started at Capitol Flea Market and then continued onto city streets where two men were hit by a car and one was stabbed.
With emotions overflowing, family members returned to the spot on Snell Road where 23-year-old Eric Vallejo was beaten, stabbed and run over.
Police say the fight started at the flea market which was crowded with afternoon shoppers. Flea market security guards kicked out about a dozen men. The fight picked back up again out on the street.
As one officer told KPIX 5, "People were coming out of vehicles, people were in the middle of the street. There was a physical fight breaking out in the middle of the roadway. At some point someone was in a vehicle and hit the decedant."
Eric Vallejo was run over and died at the scene.
"We believe there was some intent there. That's why we are pursuing murder charges," the officer said.
Vallejo's cousin, Eliana Del Real, told KPIX 5 Monday "Our family is hurting right now. No one deserves to die that way. And he's leaving behind his beautiful daughter who's asking where her daddy is and we don't know what to tell her."
Two other men showed up at the hospital Sunday, one was stabbed, the other was struck by a car. Although they were not cooperative with police, they aren't considered suspects.
Del Real told KPIX that Eric Vallejo was a janitor who worked at a school.
"He was a good guy, he had a good job. He was taking care of his family. He got into trouble here and there but nothing bad you know?"
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