Details released surrounding Redwood City Caltrain station homicide

(KRON) — Prosecutors revealed more details about what they believe happened leading up to a grisly August 27 homicide at a Caltrain station in downtown Redwood City.

The accused killer, 31-year-old Jose Gomez Bustamante, made his first court appearance at the Hall of Justice Tuesday and he did not enter a plea.

On August 27, Bustamante met with his parole officer in San Jose, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office said. After the meeting, he bought a knife and alcohol in San Jose, and boarded Caltrain to travel back to Redwood City where he resided, the DA’s office said.

Bustamante’s train arrived at the Sequoia Station in Redwood City at 4:13 p.m. Around the same time, prosecutors said a 23-year-old woman got into a verbal argument with another man at the station.

She claimed that the man “was hitting on her,” and said something about it to Bustamante, investigators said.

After talking with the woman, Bustamante approached the man on the station’s platform and stabbed him multiple times with a knife, according to investigators. “Victim lost consciousness and died at a hospital,” the DA’s office wrote.

A San Mateo County coroner identified the homicide victim as 66-year-old Joseph Michael Carreiro. “We extend our thoughts and deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus.

Deputies worked throughout the night to find the suspect. They arrested him the following morning on the 2600 block of El Camino Real and Bustamante was booked into Maguire Correctional Facility jail.

Prosecutors said Bustamante admitted to buying a knife and drinking alcohol leading up to the homicide. He also claimed he was “blacked out” after drinking, the DA’s office wrote.

Investigators found the suspected murder weapon inside Bustamante’s home.

There were witnesses around Caltrain’s Sequoia Station platform when the deadly knife attack occurred. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is asking witnesses who captured videos or photos of the incident to submit them through their evidence portal.

Prosecutors charged Bustamante with murder. He is scheduled to return to court September 16 to enter a plea. Bustamante remains in jail without bail.