San Jose man arrested for attempted murder following rush-hour shooting: CHP

(KRON) — A 24-year-old man from San Jose was arrested on Aug. 14 following a Highway 84 shooting in Newark that left one man hospitalized, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The alleged shooting happened during rush hour on Aug. 12. CHP officers were responding to a two-car crash on Highway 84, west of I-880, when a local hospital told officers that a gunshot victim had just walked into the emergency room with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators identified Stefan Mercado as the suspected shooter in the case and arrested him two days after the shooting during a traffic stop in Palo Alto around 6:45 p.m.

“Investigators learned the victim had been shot during a road rage incident involving two vehicles,” CHP said. “… Detectives quickly identified Mercado as the primary suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest.”

CHP detectives served a search warrant at Mercado’s San Jose home, where they allegedly found a handgun.

Mercado was booked into Santa Rita Jail for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. CHP Golden Gate Division Chief Don Goodbrand praised investigators for the arrest.

“Our detectives’ swift work has once again led to the arrest of a dangerous criminal who chose to endanger the public by engaging in gun violence on our freeways,” Goodbrand said. “I commend our detectives for their hard work and also thank the Palo Alto Police Department for their assistance in helping us locate and take the suspect into custody.”