Myla Thi Dang, a 20-year-old woman from Marina, California, was tragically shot and killed on July 3, 2017, in a rented home near 10th Street in San Jose. The incident occurred around 5:07 p.m. when loud bangs were reported coming from the residence. Upon arrival, police officers found Dang suffering from at least one gunshot wound, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Dang and the suspect were acquainted, and the crime scene investigators were able to identify the suspect through fingerprint and DNA evidence left at the scene.
The suspect, 19-year-old Daniel Gebrehiwet Zeratsion, was apprehended on July 11, 2017, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers as he attempted to flee across the Mexican-American border. Zeratsion was subsequently transported back to San Jose and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of homicide. The arrest warrant for felony murder was issued within 24 hours of the crime, and Zeratsion was charged with one count of murder with a firearm enhancement.
Neighbors reported seeing different groups of people entering and exiting the residence in the days leading up to the shooting, and there were also reports of fireworks. Additionally, it was noted that San Jose police had been called to the home previously due to reports of domestic abuse. The exact motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but the relationship between Dang and Zeratsion was confirmed by the authorities.
The case garnered significant attention, and the San Jose Police Department urged anyone with information to come forward. The investigation was led by Detective Sergeant Mike Montonye and Detective Jason Tanner of the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unit. Despite the arrest and charges, the case file remained under court seal, and further details about the shooting were not released to the public. The tragic death of Myla Dang highlighted issues of domestic violence and the dangers that can arise from such situations.
