Desiree Bermea works just up the street from the courtyard where a 15-year-old boy was fatally stabbed on Valentine’s Day at San Jose’s Santana Row.
It hit “really close to home,” said Bermea, 46, who works at Vintage Wine Bar. “It makes no sense. That really doesn’t. Like how? How did that happen?”
The teenager, identified on a GoFundMe page as David S. Gutierrez, was beaten and stabbed in the heart while on a Valentine’s Day date with his girlfriend. The attack happened on the 300 block of Santana Row — right outside upscale restaurants with walls of windows and in full view of diners. The San Jose Police Department has said it’s looking for multiple suspects but has yet to release any details about suspects in the case.
Shoppers, residents and employees of the upscale outdoor mall said the fatal attack has prompted some safety concerns but largely expressed confidence in Santana Row’s safety. On a sunny Tuesday morning just four days later, patrons and diners strolled through the outdoor mall’s main street, many pushing strollers or walking dogs.
Bermea gestured toward the courtyard where the stabbing occurred.
“I definitely don’t feel safe, because that happened just right there,” she said,
Bermea said she’s lucky that she primarily works mornings but gets nervous about walking into the complex’s parking lots when she works after 10:30 p.m. She does not think that Santana Row has enough security and complains the employee parking lot is underlit.
She also expressed concern that the management of Santana Row has not sent an email to employees who work at the mall’s businesses outlining precautions they will take in the aftermath of the attack.
Federal Realty, the company that operates Santana Row, is in direct communication with law enforcement and will continue to cooperate as the investigation progresses, said Collette Navarrette, senior director of marketing, in a statement.
“We want to reassure our community that Santana Row remains a secure and welcoming place to live, work and visit. Our property is monitored by 24-hour onsite security, and we have a strong relationship with the San Jose Police Department,” Navarrette said. “The unfortunate reality is that violence, particularly targeted incidents among acquaintances such as this one, has been on the rise both regionally and nationally.”
“This serves as a reminder that these situations can happen anywhere,” she said. “Our commitment is to make this neighborhood a welcoming place for those who engage in lawful activity.”
Ted Wu, 47, has lived at the Santana Row residences for six years. While walking his dog down Santana Row’s central street Tuesday, he said that there is good security and police presence but expressed concerns about an increase in loitering and other suspicious activity recently.
“It does seem like the elements and just the riff-raff and people up to no good are closing in,” he said. “I think it’s just like the kids around here have nothing to do.”
Wu mentioned a sideshow on Winchester Boulevard outside Santana Row in June that resulted in a spectator reportedly being hit by a car and a police vehicle being attacked.
When he heard about the stabbing, his reaction “wasn’t that Santana Row was getting more dangerous,” he said. “I still feel safe most of the time, but it does seem like things are getting a little bit worse.”
“There’s a lot of security here, but there’s not enough police at night,” he added.
Other patrons said the mall has a strong security presence.
“For the most part, like when I’m here, I feel like it’s pretty safe,” said Caitlin Lee, a 23-year-old San Jose resident, adding that the stabbing didn’t deter her from visiting and that she often sees a lot of security guards when shopping. “I don’t think I’ve ever been wary here at all.”
John Delroy, a 42-year-old San Jose resident, also noted that he often sees police officers at Santana Row and added that people can be crazy “everywhere you go.”
“I’m from New York, so I feel safe anywhere I go,” Delroy said.
Ana Fierro, a 45-year-old resident of San Jose, had second thoughts when she went to dinner at Santana Row on Monday evening but found when she arrived that it was “quiet” and “pretty normal.” She returned Tuesday morning and noted that she always sees security guards.
“It seemed pretty calm,” she said. “I think it was just something that doesn’t happen very often, and I don’t know if it could have been prevented or not, but I do feel safe.”
The homicide marked San Jose’s third of the year, and the police investigation continued Friday.
“As we await more details about this tragic death, my thoughts are with the victim’s family, who are undoubtedly reeling from this horrific loss,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement. “I have full confidence that our police officers will pursue every lead to bring the perpetrator of this senseless violence to justice.”