Within an hour and a half last Thursday, three people died and others were injured during a crime spree allegedly carried out by one man from the South Bay area.
Suspect Kevin Parkourana, 31, was expected to be arraignedTuesday but refused to go to court, according the Mercury News. KCBS Radio’s Mike DeWald was joined by Stephen Clark to discuss the suspect’s potential mental health defense.
“For the defense, it’s all about Parkourana’s mental state,” said DeWald.
“They’re going to want to talk to his friends and family and physicians to see whether Mr. Parkourana is currently even competent to address these issues and also assist his lawyers in the case,” Clark explained.
According to the San José Police Department, officers arrived at the 700 block of East Santa Clara Street for a report of a vehicle collision at around 4:15 p.m. last Thursday and one saw the suspect fleeing from the scene.
“It was later determined that the suspect vehicle was related to multiple violent incidents that occurred throughout the city of San José,” said police. “Preliminary information obtained on scene revealed the suspect had deliberately driven toward the pedestrians in order to collide with them. The victims were transported to local hospitals where they succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced deceased.”
Homicide detectives were called to the scene and, during an investigation into the incident, police learned that a homicide incident had also occurred in the city of Milpitas, Calif. Authorities from both departments worked together to identify Parkourana as a suspect tied to both incidents. He was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for homicide.
The Milpitas Police Department said in a Friday press release that they were investigating a stabbing incident with the San José police.
“Police don't have a motive, though,” said DeWald. “Parkourana has prior convictions and has been in a mental health court.”
“It’s too early to point fingers, but it’s not too early to ask questions about the level of supervision that Mr. Parkourana was receiving,” Clark said. He expects prosecutors will argue that the suspect should remain behind bars during his trial.
If Parkourana is eventually convicted, he could spend life in prison or a mental health facility, said DeWald.
Anyone with information about the crime spree is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Martinez #3934 or Detective Jize #4324 of the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit. They can be reached at: 3934@sanjoseca.gov and/or 4324@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-277-5283.
“Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org,” said the San José Police Department. “If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.”
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