Fight near Alviso Street leaves one in coma, neighborhood in shock

By Nicoel Resz

In the early morning hours of March 22, the streets of the Alviso neighborhood gave way to events far more severe than the usual antics of partying students.

Instead, the community on the outskirts of campus would bear witness to a brutal beating that left one young male comatose.

According to reports compiled by the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), two separate groups of individuals, not affiliated with the university, were in the Alviso neighborhood the night of Friday, March 21, visiting separate groups of Santa Clara students who reside in the Panelli Place complex.

After a brief confrontation with four people at the house on Panelli Place, suspect Brendon Rose, 19, of Pleasanton, was asked to leave the residence. Moments later, an altercation ensued near the corner of Bellomy and Alviso, involving roughly 10 to 15 males, including Rose and his friends.

As indicated by witness statements, Jed Bober of Gilroy and three of his male friends attempted to break up the fight between the groups of males. At this time, Bober was allegedly punched in the back of the head by Rose and knocked unconscious.

Witnesses say he fell straight back, striking his head sharply on the pavement, at which time Bober's three friends rushed to his aid, citing he "looked dead."

As the three approached Bober, Rose allegedly kicked Bober in the head, in a manner that was described by some onlookers as a "football kick."

After regaining slight consciousness, Bober's friends then took him to the hospital, saying the young male was vomiting blood and unable to complete sentences.

Bober suffered right and left side frontal lobe brain damage, a skull fracture on the left frontal area and substantial swelling of the brain.

For two weeks following the incident, Bober was comatose and remained in a critical and declining condition. He is now in a hospital in Redwood City and doctors are uncertain whether he will make a full recovery.

The Tuesday following the incident, Alviso resident Joanne Bruna turned over a videotape to investigators at SCPD that she had taken the night of March 22. A section of the videotape captured the suspects running from the fight to their vehicles and was booked into evidence.

On April 9, the District Attorney's office filed a criminal complaint, charging Rose and codefendant Michael Kilpatrick with attempted murder. Rose was arrested and brought into custody while Kilpatrick is still at large.

Due to an ongoing investigation, witnesses and investigators are not at liberty to discuss the case.

SCPD detective Kurt Clark said only that the department is "very concerned about the incident itself," especially due to its close proximity to the university.

He commented further that students must drink responsibly to prevent occurrences such as these from happening.

"We realize students want to experience college life," said Clark. "But when you do it irresponsibly other things can duck tail, like fights."

Bruna, on the other hand, along with her Alviso neighbors, are extremely concerned about the safety of their community and worry that people from outside the area may be causing trouble in the neighborhood.

"I'm concerned for the safety of everyone," said Bruna. "But I'm also very concerned about the undesirable elements that are coming into this neighborhood."

As far as videotaping the parts of the incident are concerned, Bruna said that although it was a frightening scene, she will not be deterred from further taping nor articulating her safety concerns.

"It was a horrendous incident to witness, but it will not stop me from continuing to speak for safety," said Bruna.

Rose is set to make a plea at the Superior Court on May 9, 2003, and there is a $25,000 arrest warrant for Kilpatrick.