San Jose: Two arrested, one sought in March robbery shooting
SAN JOSE — Police have arrested two Central Valley men and are looking for a third suspect in connection with a March armed robbery in which a man was reportedly ambushed then shot while his assailants made off with property worth thousands of dollars, authorities said.
The shooting was reported March 23 around 2:30 a.m., after a man walking near Phelan Avenue and Monterey Road was approached by three men in a car, who soon after got out and pointed guns at him, according to San Jose police.
A physical fight ensued, and the man was shot and wounded while wrestling with one of the attackers, police said. The three men from the car reportedly took $40,000 worth of items from the victim and fled.
An ensuing police investigation identified two suspects: Joseph Mario Rico, 39, of Mountain House, and Julian Jacob Lomeli, a 20-year-old Stockton resident. Police said both men were arrested May 22 in their cities of residence.
Rico and Lomeli were booked into the Elmwood men’s jail in Milpitas, where they are being held without bail, according to jail records. They have been criminally charged with the robbery, and are scheduled to next appear in court June 10. Court records show Rico has at least three prior felony convictions in Santa Clara County.
Police added that a third suspect remains unidentified. Anyone with information about the shooting can contact SJPD Robbery Detective Williams at 408-277-4166 or by email at 4766@sanjoseca.gov. Tips can also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.