SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 20: Police tape blocks off the scene of a shooting along Jackson Street in Japantown, in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. One person later died from their injuries and the incident was being investigated as a homicide, the fifth so far in 2021. Police also responded to two other unrelated shootings early Saturday morning one at 1900 block of Poco Way and another on the 500 block of West Alma Avenue. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE — A Saratoga man described by friends as a talented Bay Area tattoo artist has been identified as the victim of a fatal shooting last week outside a San Jose lounge, according to authorities and a fundraising page created in his memory.
Jose Luis Rodriguez, 34, died Feb. 29, according to San Jose police and the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.
Police officers were called at 1:18 a.m. to Park Lane Plaza off Moorpark Avenue near Lawrence Expressway for a report of a gunshot; they found Rodriguez mortally wounded inside a vehicle parked outside the Park Lane Lounge.
Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not publicly identified any suspects or a motive for the fatal shooting, which marked the ninth homicide of the year investigated by San Jose police.
A GoFundMe page established to cover funeral expenses and support Rodriguez’s three young children called his death “absolutely heart breaking for the family,” and said that he “lit up the world” with his personality and tattoo work.
The page mentioned that a vigil outside the Park Lane Lounge was planned for this past weekend, and also implored Rodriguez’s friends and supporters to share any information that could help the homicide investigation.
“We are still waiting to find out more answers and if anyone knows anything, it would be greatly appreciated for you to notify SJPD,” the page reads. “We thank you during this difficult time for the Rodriguez family.”
Anyone with information about the case can contact the SJPD homicide unit at 408-277-5283 or email Detective Sgt. Ivan Barragan at 4106@sanjoseca.gov or Detective Catherine Van Brande at 4542@sanjoseca.gov. Tips can also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.
Originally published at Robert Salonga