Cal Fire officials are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect from an arson case at San Jose State University late last month.
San Jose State University police initially responded at 5:18pm on March 31 to a fire on campus and determined that it had been set on purpose.
The suspected arsonist was seen on surveillance footage and campus police and the Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal's arson and bomb unit released images from the footage.
Authorities have not confirmed the gender of the suspect, who is described as standing about 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall and weighing about 150-180 pounds with a medium build, light skin, dark hair and appeared to be in their late 20s or early 30s.
The suspect was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, mirrored sunglasses, a red tube top or sports bra-type garment, dark blue pants and black shoes, and carried a blue and white-colored piece of clothing with a tan strapped bag over their left shoulder and a red lighter in their right hand.
Anyone with information is asked to call university police at (408) 924-2222 or the Cal Fire arson and bomb unit at (213) 302-5855 or [email protected].
I see “unhoused” (which is a term CA uses for people with severe mental illness) people lighting fires all over downtown constantly. Sometimes they just light it to light it – and it’s not for any particular purpose like a heating source. Just a few weeks ago, a group of “unhoused” burned down to vacant homes right by City Hall. RVs have had propane tanks explode – and mentally ill people just sometimes light fires in random places for no reason. The absolute allowance and acceptance of this behavior all over downtown/East SJ is a major issue. Some news entity must starting holding these “leaders” accountable for all their failures.