San Jose police have apprehended a suspect in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred near North Fourth and East St. John streets on April 26. The victim has been identified as 51-year-old Sonji Conerly, a resident of San Jose. The incident was reported to authorities at 9:07 p.m. that evening when a 911 caller alerted them to an injured woman at the scene.
Upon arrival, responding officers discovered the woman, who was not breathing and had sustained at least one gunshot wound. She was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where she was sadly pronounced dead. The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office confirmed the victim’s identity.
Initial investigations failed to locate the shooter in the vicinity. However, subsequent police inquiries led to the identification of 61-year-old Myron Barrier, a San Jose resident, as the primary suspect. On May 21, Barrier was located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and subsequently arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service. He was then booked into a local jail.
On Friday, San Jose Police Department (SJPD) detectives accompanied Barrier back to San Jose, where he was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of murder. Records indicate that he is being held without bail.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting are still under investigation, as SJPD continues to gather evidence and interview witnesses. This incident marks the 12th homicide investigated by San Jose police this year, with the total number of homicides in the city having since risen to 17.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the SJPD homicide unit or email Detective Sgt. John Van Den Broeck or Detective Amanda Estantino. Alternatively, tips can be provided to Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers.
