San Jose: Man convicted in 2016 car shootings on Blossom Hill Road

SAN JOSE — A jury has convicted a man for randomly shooting at vehicles on Blossom Hill Road during a three-month stretch in 2016 that terrified South San Jose residents, fearful they might be the next unlucky target, authorities said.

Michael James Lewis, 33, was found guilty of 26 charges, including assault with a semi-automatic weapon; shooting at an occupied vehicle; being a felon with a firearm; and evading police in connection with the shooting spree on May 4 and Aug. 5 2016. Jurors could not reach a verdict on five attempted murder charges filed against Lewis.

The April 22 conviction was based on five victims linked to Lewis’ .380 semiautomatic pistol through ballistic evidence, though San Jose police contend that he was behind as many as 11 shootings during that span. Lewis faces up to 54 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled June 7.

“This is a frightening case of gun violence. Mr. Lewis used lethal force time and time again to attack many innocent people,” prosecutor Marina Mankaryous said in a statement Thursday.

All of shootings occurred after midnight on Blossom Hill Road, between Snell Avenue and Highway 101. The victims included a man who was hit in the arm after a bullet went through his driver-side door, and a woman who was hit in the head by broken glass. A motive for the attacks has never been made clear.

The break in the case occurred Aug. 14, 2016 when San Jose police Officer Mel Dunn was patrolling Blossom Hill Road. Despite the early-morning darkness, he noticed a black Dodge Charger parked at 2:30 a.m. in front of a Mountain Mike’s pizza near Snell Avenue. Police said it was the type of car that detectives had previously linked to the shootings.

The driver sped away as Dunn approached him, leading to a start-and-stop chase that continued on northbound Highway 85 to Bascom Avenue, where the driver ditched the car and fled. He was eventually arrested about a mile away, and identified as Lewis. A search warrant served at his home later revealed a handgun that was later tied to the five shootings for which he was charged.

“We are all fortunate for the great work of the San Jose police,” Mankaryous said, “who found him before he killed someone.”

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