A four-day crime spree across Northern California ended in a hail of bullets on a downtown San Jose street, leaving a violent carjacker dead and a police sergeant fighting for his life after taking a bullet to the head.
Story Snapshot
- Mohamed Husien, 30, stole two Corvettes and committed multiple armed robberies across three counties before engaging in deadly shootouts with law enforcement
- Six law enforcement agencies coordinated pursuit using license plate readers and helicopter surveillance to track the suspect through Sacramento, San Benito, and Santa Clara counties
- San Jose Police Sergeant Gerardo Silva was shot in the head during the final confrontation but survived and was released from the hospital the following day
- Bystanders reported hearing 20-30 gunshots in a residential area as the violent encounter unfolded in broad daylight
When Car Theft Becomes Urban Warfare
Mohamed Husien walked into a Sacramento Corvette dealership on January 17, 2026, and drove away with a red sports car. What followed resembled something from a Hollywood action thriller, except the danger was real and the bullets were live. Over four days, Husien transformed from car thief to armed robber to the central figure in what San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph would later describe as an incredibly dangerous situation requiring immediate action. The Davis man’s rampage included at least four armed robberies, two carjackings, and multiple gun battles with law enforcement across three California counties.
Technology Tracks the Predator
License plate readers detected the stolen red Corvette in San Jose on January 22, triggering a coordinated response that would eventually involve six separate law enforcement agencies. At 2:01 p.m., Husien escalated dramatically, carjacking a green Corvette at gunpoint from Capitol Chevrolet in San Jose. A police helicopter provided real-time tracking as the suspect fled southbound toward Hollister, giving ground units critical intelligence. This technological advantage proved essential in maintaining pursuit while minimizing risk to uninvolved motorists on California highways.
Multiple Battlegrounds Across Three Counties
The suspect’s willingness to engage law enforcement with gunfire transformed routine streets into combat zones. San Benito Sheriff’s deputies and Hollister Police officers exchanged fire with Husien during the chase through their jurisdiction. The brazen criminal carjacked yet another vehicle in Hollister before turning northbound back toward San Jose. California Highway Patrol units joined the pursuit, also taking fire from the increasingly desperate suspect. Each confrontation placed countless community members in danger as gun battles erupted across multiple cities in broad daylight.
Downtown Showdown on a Residential Street
The final confrontation occurred near Julian and Notre Dame Avenue in downtown San Jose, where residential density magnified the threat to innocent lives. Sergeant Gerardo Silva confronted the armed suspect, taking a gunshot to the head that fractured his skull. Witnesses reported hearing between 20 and 30 gunshots echo through their neighborhood. The violent exchange ended with Husien dead at the scene, though questions remain about the precise circumstances. Video footage shows interactions between the suspect and a police vehicle, but authorities stated the medical examiner would determine the official manner of death.
Character Revealed in Crisis
Silva’s first words upon arriving at the hospital spoke volumes about the man who had just survived a headshot: “Make sure someone takes care of my dogs.” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan seized on this detail to illustrate the character of the city’s police force—officers who risk everything to protect strangers, then return home to care for their own families. By January 23, just one day after the shooting, Silva had been released from the hospital in good spirits, his recovery defying the severity of his injury. The San Jose Police Officers’ Association praised the incredible bravery exhibited by every officer involved.
Justified Force or Excessive Response
Police Chief Paul Joseph defended the use of deadly force without hesitation during his January 23 news conference. “Nothing about a deadly force encounter is pretty,” he acknowledged, but emphasized the immediate threat Husien posed to public safety. “Whatever means the officers needed to use to stop that individual, they made a decision in that moment,” Joseph stated, framing the response as necessary given the extraordinary circumstances. The investigation continues, with helicopter footage and bystander cell phone video under review. The institutional support from union leadership and municipal officials stands in stark contrast to the absence of any critical voices in available reporting.
When Criminals Choose Violence Over Surrender
Husien’s actions throughout the four-day spree demonstrated a disturbing willingness to escalate at every opportunity. From simple vehicle theft to armed robbery to carjacking to engaging in multiple shootouts with law enforcement, each decision moved further from rationality and deeper into violence. His motivations remain unclear, but the trajectory speaks to a fundamental disregard for human life—both his own and that of others. The coordination required to stop him consumed resources from Sacramento Police, California Highway Patrol, San Benito Sheriff’s Office, Hollister Police, and San Jose Police. This wasn’t a case of minor criminality spiraling out of control; this was sustained, deliberate violence spanning multiple jurisdictions.
Technology and Teamwork Stop the Threat
The successful resolution of this incident validates investments in license plate reader networks and aviation assets. Without the helicopter providing continuous surveillance, ground units would have faced impossible decisions about public safety during the pursuit. The coordination among six agencies across three counties demonstrated sophisticated communication protocols and unified command structure. These technological and organizational capabilities proved essential in tracking and ultimately stopping an armed suspect who had already proven his willingness to shoot at law enforcement. The incident may well influence future policy discussions regarding pursuit protocols and inter-agency cooperation frameworks.
