Man stabbed to death on Park

By Johanna Mitchell

A San Jose man was stabbed to death Thursday morning in a neighborhood about half a mile from campus.

Ryan Townes, 26, was found dead on the 2100 block of Park Avenue near Newhall Street, said Lt. Enrique Garcia, a San Jose police spokesman.

Police found the victim, who was unaffiliated with the university, at 2:42 a.m. after there were reports of a woman screaming nearby. Townes was pronounced dead at the scene.

Several witnesses are being questioned, said Garcia, but police have not identified any suspects, and the investigation is still ongoing.

The stabbing on Park Avenue was the second homicide to occur near campus in the past two years. In May 2006, a woman was shot and killed at an apartment complex on Bellomy Street. The 44-year-old victim was not affiliated with the university.

Three homicides occurred in the city of Santa Clara during that same time.

Thursday's stabbing marks the 26th homicide in San Jose this year.

Anyone with information on the stabbing may contact the San Jose Police Homicide Unit at (408) 277-5283.

Contact Johanna Mitchell at (408) 554-4546 or jmitchell@scu.edu.