Police say there is no continuing threat, but key facts remain under investigation.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Police are investigating a targeted attack that left one man shot to death outside a home Friday and another body found inside a burned residence on Enright Avenue.
The case has drawn a large police and fire response in a quiet South Bay neighborhood near Serra and Enright avenues. Authorities have not released the names of the dead, a motive or whether a suspect has been found. Police said detectives believe the attack was targeted and that there is no further threat to public safety.
Officers were called about 12:30 p.m. Friday to the 600 block of Enright Avenue after reports of gunfire. They found a man with at least one gunshot wound in front of a home, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Minutes later, a nearby house caught fire. One neighbor said the sound was clear on a doorbell camera. “I heard this live,” the neighbor said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God. That was gunshots for sure.’”
The fire destroyed a one-story, single-family home and left the property too dangerous for investigators to enter right away. Police later used drones to search the burned structure and found a body near the rear of the home Friday evening. The Santa Clara Fire Department determined about 11 a.m. Saturday that the damaged house was safe enough for investigators to approach the body. Officials have not said whether the person found inside the home died before, during or after the fire.
Neighbors described the shooting victim as a father and longtime resident who lived with his wife and daughter. Several said the family was known for walking their dog and taking part in neighborhood life. One neighbor said the daughter had sold Girl Scout cookies to residents. “I am just so sorry for the family, so sad,” the neighbor said. “Such a nice family.” Police had not publicly confirmed those descriptions or released the victim’s identity by Monday.
Several residents told reporters they believed the burned home had been used as a short-term rental. They described frequent visitors and unfamiliar cars at the property. Police have not confirmed whether the home’s rental status is part of the investigation, whether the gunman had been staying there or whether the two dead people knew each other. Investigators have also not publicly said what caused the fire.
The response brought officers from multiple agencies, tactical vehicles and SWAT personnel into the neighborhood. Some residents sheltered in place while firefighters worked from a distance because police were still treating the scene as active. Investigators later processed the burned home with help from fire officials, the Santa Clara County Crime Lab and the Santa Clara County Arson Task Force.
The investigation remains open. Police have asked anyone with information to contact Detective Sergeant Bell, and anonymous tips may be left with the department. As of Monday, authorities had not announced arrests, charges or a public briefing date.
Author note: Last updated May 11, 2026.