Palo Alto PD use new video to solve cold case

PALO ALTO, Calif (KGO) -- A young woman was murdered over 10 years ago and the case has gone cold. So the Palo Alto Police Department has released a video to try to capture the public's interest and generate new leads.

"There's not a day that doesn't go by, that this case isn't on my mind," said Lt. Zach Perron, with the Palo Alto Police Department, who was one of the first officers to respond to the shooting.

It was Sunday, June 10, 2001 when 21-year-old Maria Hsiao was shot while standing with family and friends outside the now-defunct Q Cafe downtown. She would die a short time later at the hospital.

Right now, there are no leads, no suspects and no persons of interest.

"When a shot rings out, people scatter, people are screaming, people are going every which way, and so it was a very chaotic scene," he described.

Now, almost 14 years later, police are turning to the community once again.

They've released a video, a short documentary of sorts, hoping to stir up anyone's memory about what may have happened.

"The shooter may have identified themselves to other people," said Palo Alto Police Chief Dennis Burns, who was also there the night of the shooting.

He says sharing this video through social media could lead to a break in the case.

"The relationship between the person who was the shooter and the person who received the information may have changed," said Chief Burns.

Maria's family has remained quiet over the years, but her sister, Andrea, did agree to be interviewed for the video.

"The peace that would bring to me would be priceless, worth all the money in the world to me. It would help me to heal so that I could move forward," she said.

It's an attempt by all, to mend their broken hearts.

There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. If you have any information that could help authorities, you're urged to call Palo Alto Police.