By Erika Heidecker and Khalida Sarwari
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has identified the three men who were fatally shot at a Cupertino cement plant this morning, prompting a massive manhunt that continues tonight.
John Robert Vallejos, 51, and Mark Munoz, 59, both of San Jose, and Manuel Guadalupe Pinon, 48, of Newman, died after a man showed up for an early morning meeting at the plant and opened fire on other employees, according to the sheriff’s office.
Shareef Allman, 47, is suspected of the shooting that occurred at about 4:15 a.m. at the Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant at 24001 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said at a noontime news conference.
After fleeing the worksite, Allman allegedly attempted to take a woman’s car at gunpoint shortly before 7 a.m. in a Hewlett-Packard company parking lot near the intersection of Homestead Road and Tantau Avenue. When the woman refused, he shot her once before fleeing, sheriff’s officials said.
The woman was taken to a hospital to be treated for her injuries, which are not considered life-threatening.
A Mercury sedan associated with Allman was later found at an Arco gas station at the intersection of Wolfe and Homestead roads, the last place he has been seen today, Smith said.
Authorities recovered a shotgun, handgun and two assault rifles that allegedly belonged to Allman, Smith said. Sheriff’s officials have also obtained surveillance footage from the gas station that shows him walking away from the car with a rifle, she said.
Sheriff’s deputies, along with other local law enforcement agencies, are continuing their search in the area where he was last seen, sheriff’s officials said tonight.
They are reminding residents that Allman is considered armed and dangerous. He is described as a black man who is about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds.
They are urging anyone who comes in contact with him to call 911. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call (408) 808-4500 during business hours and (408) 808-4410 during non-business hours.
