Police are investigating the deaths of a man and a woman found unresponsive in a parked car Saturday afternoon near San Jose State University, with officers at the scene considering whether an overdose may have been involved. The two were found in a parking garage at 350 S. 4th St. just after 2 p.m., and first responders later pronounced both dead at the scene.
San Jose State police said officers arrived quickly, began medical aid and found a male adult and an adult female inside the car. Captain Jermaine Thomas said the pair were non-affiliates and were not connected to the campus or its students. Their identities have not been released while next of kin are notified, and investigators are reviewing campus surveillance video as they try to determine exactly what happened.
The deaths landed on a campus that was already quieter than usual. Spring classes and graduation ceremonies had wrapped up, leaving fewer students on site Saturday, and police said there is no threat to the university community and no suspects are being sought. The parking garage itself is open to the public 24 hours a day and requires payment to park, a setup that makes it a destination not just for students but for people heading to nearby events and businesses.
That public access is part of why the case has drawn attention beyond sjsu. The garage is used by visitors attending nearby events, including FanimeCon, and students said the area outside campus can feel less secure than the university grounds themselves. Anthony Garcia said he feels better on campus than when he walks off it, adding that the area can seem sketchy and that he always looks around his surroundings. Rebekah Rardin said she was struck by how intense the news sounded, noting that school emails usually carry reports about less serious issues such as graffiti, and that when she had evening classes she would have a friend walk her back to her car.
Police have not said what caused the deaths, and that question remains open as investigators review evidence and wait for the results that could confirm or rule out an overdose. For now, the facts are narrow but stark: two people were found dead in a public garage near campus, they were not tied to the university, and authorities say the broader sjsu community is not in danger.
