Mountain View's first homicide in 3 years witnessed by many

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (KGO) -- A 43-year-old Marin County man, identified by Mountain View police as Jan Neal, is facing homicide charges after allegedly stabbing a 55-year-old man in front of people gathered in a downtown plaza.

The victim, who has not been identified pending notification of next of kin, later died. It is the first homicide in Mountain View in three years.

The incident happened Saturday evening around 6:30 p.m. outside the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on Castro Street, where patrons had started assembling to see an 8 p.m. performance of "The Prince of Egypt."

A woman who heard the commotion and saw part of the attack said she and other witnesses, including several children, were shocked by the attack. The woman provided ABC7 News with a verbal account of the incident but declined to go on camera or to give her name.

Mountain View Police Public Information Officer Katie Nelson said officers responding to a 911 call also witnessed the attack. The first responding officer tried to subdue suspect with a Taser but it had no effect.

Although police were able to get witness accounts on scene, the department is seeking additional information from the public as to the nature of the attack. It is not known if there had been an argument or some other reason for the attack. There are no surveillance cameras in the plaza, which is shared by Mountain View's City Hall.

Residents of Mountain View were surprised by the news of a violent crime in their community. Tuan Nguyen told ABC7 News that he and his wife moved from San Francisco to Mountain View because of its safe environment. Others shared the same sentiment, including a business owner and resident of over 30 years.

The case remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call police Detective Dan Garcia at (650) 903-6624.

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