Malik Jackson, a 20-year-old resident of San Jose, California, tragically lost his life on June 3, 2021. The incident occurred in the area of North San Pedro and West Hedding streets, where shots were reported around 1:50 p.m. Jackson was not the intended target of the shooting, according to his family. He was at the Hall of Justice supporting a friend in a court case and was walking to his car when he was struck by gunfire.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and seeing someone running before Jackson was found on the ground, fatally wounded.
The San Jose Police Department quickly arrested two suspects, Eric Zarate, 43, and Michael Herrera, 34, in connection with the shooting. Both individuals were charged with Jackson's murder. The authorities believe that the shooting may have been an act of retaliation against an unknown person, and Jackson was inadvertently caught in the crossfire. The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office initially listed the victim's last name as Johnson, but his family clarified that this was incorrect.
The investigation revealed that Zarate and Herrera were acting suspiciously, which drew the attention of the officers. The swift response by the police likely prevented further casualties. The relationship between the suspects and the victim remains unclear, but investigators are working to determine any connections. Jackson's family described him as a hardworking young man who loved football and did not deserve such a tragic end.
This incident marked San Jose's 18th homicide of the year and occurred just a block away from a deadly mass shooting at a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority maintenance facility a week earlier. The two events, however, were not related. The community was left reeling from the back-to-back tragedies, with residents experiencing retraumatization from the violence in their neighborhood.
The legal proceedings against Zarate and Herrera are ongoing, with both suspects facing serious charges for their involvement in Jackson's death. The case has drawn significant attention due to the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the broader implications for community safety in San Jose.
