Five individuals, including a 13-year-old, have been taken into custody in connection with San Jose’s young boxer David Gutierrez’s fatal stabbing.
San Jose’s 15-year-old rising boxing star, David Gutierrez, tragically lost his life to a stabbing at Santana Row on February 14, 2025.
The tragic demise of David Gutierrez marks San Jose’s third homicide of the year.
The heartwrenching incident occurred on Valentine’s Day at Santana Row, a popular shopping and dining destination in San Jose, California.
David Gutierrez, an aspiring young boxer who trained at Gladiators Gym, must’ve never thought it would be his last evening.
On Valentine’s Day, David was out on a date with his girlfriend when a group of suspected gang members approached him.
They confronted David and questioned him about his gang affiliations.
Despite David’s attempts to flee the scene, a 13-year-old suspect, among five others, pursued him and ultimately fatally stabbed him in the heart.
David’s girlfriend and others tried to save him; however, he succumbed to the stabbing injuries at Valley Medical Center in San Jose. By the time police arrived, all five suspects had fled the scene.
All Five Suspects, Including 13-Year-Old, in Custody for Fatal Stabbing of David Gutierrez!
According to San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph, the group was dressed in gang colors.
Since February 14, the investigations into the incident involved reviewing the surveillance footage, gang intelligence, and body-worn camera evidence, which led to the arrests of the suspects on February 20 and 21.
All five suspects are believed to be affiliated with a local San Jose street gang, which includes three 16-year-olds and an 18-year-old named Emanuel Sanchez-Damian.
The 13-year-old has been booked into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder and felony assault, while the other suspects face charges of felony assault.
Likewise, Chief Joseph also cleared the air that David had no known ties with the gang. Sadly, he was an innocent victim of a senseless act of violence.
This senseless act of violence took the life of a young boy who had no known gang ties and was simply trying to enjoy an evening out.
Police Chief Paul Joseph
At the moment, David’s family and friends are processing the loss and staying out of the public eye.
Diana Gutierrez, his aunt, has created a GoFundeMe account to help his family with his funeral expenses.
“He was beaten and then stabbed in the heart. David fought for his life but didn’t make it to surgery. We lost our baby,” read the description of the GoFundMe account.
Chief Joseph noted that the public might never fully understand the case details due to the protection of minors’ identities under California law.
He also expressed concerns that the 13-year-old suspect might only spend eight months in an unlocked ranch facility.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said he wishes to discover more effective methods for ensuring young individuals are accountable for their behavior and understand the aftermath of their actions. He said,
There’s nothing more disturbing than kids killing kids,” Mahan said. “No kid should go to the mall and be scared that they’re not going to make it home. David Gutierrez deserved better. He deserved more time.
Matt Mahan
