San Jose: Two arrested in February shooting death

SAN JOSE — Two Bay Area men have been arrested in connection with a fatal February shooting near Canoas Creek that investigators suspect may have involved gang conflicts, police said.

The shooting was reported around 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 12 on Farm Drive, near where Hillsdale Avenue meets Foxworthy Avenue west of Highway 87. Responding officers found 19-year-old San Jose resident Juan Barrera suffering from gunshot injuries, and he later died at a hospital.

An ensuing investigation reviewed video surveillance from the area, and police said the footage suggested that gang motives might have fueled the shooting, but did not disclose additional details about that suspicion. Two men were later identified as suspects, and detectives obtained arrest and search warrants for them.

Wednesday, San Jose police officers located and arrested Nathaniel Henderson, 19, of Union City, and Antonio Michael Perez, a 20-year-old San Jose resident, in connection with the February shooting. Both men were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of murder, and were being held without bail.

Court records show that the two were criminally charged and scheduled for arraignment Friday. The shooting marked marked the second homicide of the year investigated by San Jose police, a total that has since increased to seven.

Anyone with information for investigators can contact the SJPD homicide unit at 408-277-5283 or email Detective Sgt. Richard Martinez at 3934@sanjoseca.gov or Detective Christina Jize at 4324@sanjoseca.gov. Tips can be also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.