Update: Kevin Parkourana identified as suspect in deadly San Jose, Milpitas rampage; Has history of assault convictions
SAN JOSE -- The man accused of going on a deadly rampage Thursday in Milpitas and San Jose has a history of assault convictions and was on active probation at the time of the attacks, police said Friday.
San Jose Police identified the suspect as 31-year-old Kevin Parkourana. A review of court records show Parkourana has a number of arrests and felony and misdemeanor convictions dating back about 10 years. Bay Area News Group reported Parkourana was arrested in January for an alleged hate crime attack on a transgender person with a knife, but he was not charged.
Police arrested Parkourana in Milpitas Thursday afternoon shortly after a stabbing attack in the parking lot of a Smart & Final store on the 400 block of Jacklin Road. Officers provided life-saving measures but the victim died from the injuries.
By that time, law enforcement agencies in the South Bay had been alerted to a number of violent incidents in San Jose that investigators believed were committed by the same person. The rampage involving multiple stabbings and intentional vehicle collisions with pedestrians left at least three people dead and at least three others hurt, two with life-threatening injuries.
At the time of the Milpitas attack, a graduation ceremony was taking place at Milpitas High School less than 100 yards away from the stabbing scene, and officers scrambled secure the event.
"So securing the area ensuring the safety of the attendees at that graduation became a priority for us," said Milpitas Police Chief Jared Hernandez during a press conference Friday afternoon. "We moved officers to perimeter positions to ensure people inside the venue were protected and we placed plainclothes detectives inside of that ceremony. We could not have done that without the assistance of the San Jose Police Department and because of that collaborative effort, we're able to maintain community safety."
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San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata confirmed that Parkourana was known to officers because of his prior history. Mata said while the acts of violence committed by the suspect were intentional, the targets were not planned.
When asked if there was a commonality to the victims who were attacked, Mata replied, "No. [It was] just random. Random attacks, like was mentioned, senseless acts that this individual committed."
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan also spoke at the press briefing, offering his condolences to the families impacted by the crime spree.
"There are no words that can convey the depth of our sorrow to the families of the victims," said Mahan. "San Jose mourns with you and I know my colleagues here today councilmembers Pam Foley and Omar Torres, share that devastation and are fielding a lot of very tough questions from neighbors today."
Parkourana was being held at the Santa Clara County Jail.
The timeline of incidents began at 3:11 p.m. at Kooser Road and Dellwood Way near Blossom Hill Road in the city's Pepper Tree neighborhood. Officers responded to a report of a carjacking and stabbing and found a man stabbed with life-threatening injuries. He was later stabilized at the hospital, police said Friday.
The victim's Honda minivan was driven about two miles away to the 1800 block of Hillsdale Ave. where at about 3:31 p.m. police said the suspect carjacked a burgundy Honda Pilot, stabbed the driver, and drove off, striking a pedestrian in the parking lot of a Target store as he fled. The second stabbing victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was later stabilized, while the person who was struck by the vehicle had injuries that were not life-threatening.
At 4 p.m., officers responded to a stabbing in downtown San Jose at N. 4th Street and E. St. John Street, which police said actually happened at 10th and E. Santa Clara Street. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries when the suspect struck his vehicle and then stabbed him.
At 4:12 p.m., the Honda Pilot intentionally struck three pedestrians in the area of E. Santa Clara St. and 16th St. Two of the pedestrians died at the scene.
Shortly after that, the suspect vehicle hit a person on a motorized scooter in the area of 2200 Alum Rock Avenue.
At 4:32 p.m. police responded to the report of the Milpitas stabbing and carjacking on Jacklin Road. The Honda Pilot was also found abandoned nearby.
Parkourana was arrested minutes after the Milpitas stabbing at Midwick Dr. and Arizona Ave. just north of the Smart & Final store and steps away from the Milpitas HS graduation ceremony.
On Thursday evening, San Jose police spokesman Officer Steven Aponte said there were other incidents that afternoon being investigated as possibly linked to the same suspect as well.
"We're still investigating to see if there are additional crimes that have occurred that we're not aware of," Aponte said. "So if anybody has more information about incidents that involved violent felonies that occurred during this afternoon time period here in San Jose or in other neighboring jurisdictions, we want to know about those."
Aponte said investigators have not yet established a motive in the crime rampage.