On Dec. 19, 2012, De Anza child development center and a district Cupertino preschool went into lock down in reaction to a shooting at Highway 85 of a Marine Corp officer’s vehicle, according to an e-mail from Marisa Spatafore, De Anza marketing and communication director, on approximately 12:25 p.m.
The victim exited Highway 85 at De Anza Boulevard and pulled into the parking lot of a nearby nursery.
It is unlikely that the shooter or shooters were aware that their target was with the Marines, said Santa Clara County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Jose Cardoza.
“Three bullet holes in the left rear passenger side of the government issued Pontiac, along with two shattered windows,” reported to ABC TV.
“The recruiter was driving an unmarked car and was wearing a jacket over his uniform,” reported CBS San Francisco.
No one was injured, said California Highway Patrol Officer D.J. Sarabia reported by NBC Bay Area.
The southbound lanes of Highway 85 were temporarily shut down from 2:15 to 2:57 p.m. according to news reports.
Nearby Cupertino schools Lincoln Elementary School and Kennedy Middle School enforced a controlled release when school ended. Parents were called to pick up their children and no students were allowed to walk home said Cupertino Union School District Spokesman Jeremy Nishihara.
But, no other schools around the area enforced a controlled release. Many parents expressed their concern for the safety of Cupertino because a 16-year-old Monta Vista High School student was recently arrested for a bomb threat against a teacher.
Some workers and customers of The Oaks Shopping center near Highway 85 also raised concern for safety. Store workers stated they did not go into lockdown. While some customers and workers were not even aware that a shooting had taken place.
Investigators face the challenges of finding eyewitnesses who were driving along Highway 85 during the time of the shooting, as police still do not have a description of the suspect or the suspect’s vehicle.
Officials reported that driving along Highway 85 is safe, though the shooter of the incident is still at large, according to several news reports.
