Inset: Joseph Vicencio (San Jose Police). Background: Cops in San Jose, California, investigate a triple homicide allegedly committed by Vicencio (KTVU).
A 27-year-old man in California is accused of killing a woman and two other people in order to prevent her from testifying that he strangled her days before the triple murder, saying he “couldn”t have loose ends and people talking about him,” according to cops.
Joseph Vicencio allegedly murdered 26-year-old Tarrah Lynn Taylor, her 24-year-old roommate Jeannessa Lurie and 26-year-old Max Ryan in San Jose. Cops said in a press release they received multiple calls shortly before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday about shots heard and a woman screaming for help in the 200 block of Chynoweth Avenue.
Officers responded to the scene and found a woman outside the home suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Officers went inside the home where they found a second female who was pronounced dead at the scene, along with a man. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, but doctors later declared him dead.
Vicencio was arrested on Wednesday.
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According to a statement of facts arrest affidavit obtained by local Fox affiliate KTVU, Taylor called San Jose police on Monday — hours before the triple homicide — to report Vicencio had punched her in the chest and strangled her the day prior. Cops noted that Taylor had marks on her neck to corroborate her allegations. Lurie also reportedly told cops she witnessed the acts of domestic violence.
But cops did not arrest Vicencio and he allegedly returned to the home early Tuesday morning and killed the three people. Surveillance video reportedly captured Vicencio fleeing the scene holding a “unique satchel” which he later ditched in the sewer. Cops recovered the bag which contained the alleged murder weapon.
Investigators spoke with a witness who reportedly said the suspect had told them that he “might be in trouble” for assaulting Taylor and he “couldn’t have loose ends and people talking about him.” The witness told Vicencio that if he was thinking about killing anyone “not to do it,” the affidavit reportedly said. After the killings, the witness said Vicencio used their computer to “search for information about murders in San Jose.”
Another witness reportedly told cops that when they confronted Vicencio about the murders he claimed he had “an issue with a male at the apartment but he handled it.”
The affidavit did not detail the exact relationship between Vicencio and Taylor but described the initial attack as domestic violence.
Local ABC affiliate KGO reports that Vicencio has an extensive criminal history dating back years. In 2019, he was accused of shooting at the Martin Luther King Jr. library and parking garage at San Jose State University. His father told the San Jose Mercury News at that his son had a “fascination with guns” and mental health problems.
Vicencio is next slated to appear in court on Oct. 24. He remains in jail.
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