San Jose Stabbing Victim Dies; Suspect Plunges From SoCal Overpass
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - The victim of a stabbing in San Jose earlier this week succumbed to his injuries Thursday night, and a man who is in a hospital after falling or jumping from a highway overpass in Santa Barbara County on Wednesday is a suspect in the murder, police said Friday.
The suspect, identified as Andrew Mark Rachal, a 51-year-old San Jose resident, is suspected of stabbing a man, also 51, around 2:50 p.m. Tuesday at a home in the 1700 block of Kyra Circle, according to police.
The victim, whose name is not yet being released, suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken to Regional Medical Center of San Jose, where he succumbed to his injuries at about 11:50 p.m. Thursday.
After the stabbing, witnesses reported seeing Rachal flee in a white 2005 GMC pickup truck before officers arrived. Investigators were able to identify him, along with his vehicle and license plate number, which they entered into a national "Wanted Persons" database.
On Wednesday afternoon, Rachal fell or jumped from an overpass onto U.S. Highway 101 in Carpinteria. He was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where he remains with undisclosed injuries, police said.
Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies located Rachal's pickup truck and after checking his license plate, found that he was wanted for the stabbing in San Jose.
The deputies arrested Rachal, and once his condition improves, San Jose investigators will coordinate his transfer to the Santa Clara County Jail.
Investigators believe Rachal and the victim knew each other, but the motive for the killing has not yet been determined.
The death marks the city's 19th of the year.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Sgt. Dave Gutierrez or Detective Brian Spears at (408) 277-5283. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP (7867) or visit www.svcrimestoppers.org.
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