Web update: Woman shot and killed Saturday morning near campus

By The Santa Clara

A 44-year-old woman was shot and killed early Saturday morning, May 27, at an apartment complex a block away from Santa Clara, though the homicide had no connection to the university, Santa Clara police spokesman Lt. Jim Buchanan said.

Santa Clara police responded to 820 Bellomy Street within a minute after receiving a 1:33 a.m. 911 call regarding a disturbance. When residents in the area told police someone had been shot, officers entered the house and found the victim's body, Buchanan said.

The victim, whose name has not been released pending identification, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Students and residents were evacuated from the immediate area and taken to a nearby location while police conducted a search both on the ground and via helicopter for 43-year-old suspect John Vance Rocha, Buchanan said.

Seventeen police units responded to Bellomy Street, as well as the Santa Clara Fire Deptartment and the city's Special Response Team, which includes a crime scene unit and hostage negotiator.

Residents were allowed to return to their homes after Rocha was taken into custody in San Jose at 5:46 a.m. Saturday morning.

"It was after 2 a.m. when I was trying to get back to my house at 740 Bellomy St." junior Darsie Lairon said. "They told me a suspect was still at large and that I couldn't go home, so I tried another entrance. The cops asked me for proof that I lived there, and I had none on me, so I couldn't come home."

Junior Joey Melo, who lives next door to the complex where the shooting occurred, said that one person tried to go through his lawn after police taped off the area.

The following day, Vice Provost for Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger sent an e-mail to all students stressing that the shooting had no connection to the university, and said Campus Safety Director Charlie Arolla was in direct contact with Santa Clara police.

The shooting on Bellomy Street is the second homicide that has occurred in the city of Santa Clara in the past two weeks, and is the third this year. The city had five homicides in 2005.

From staff reports. E-mail news@thesantaclara.com

Note: Story posted June 1, 2006.