Man arrested in connection with the 2017 murder of Wienerschnitzel

SAN JOSE – An ongoing investigation led to the 2017 arrest of a man who was fatally shot at close range while standing outside a Wienerschnitzel south of downtown, authorities said.

According to a police news release, 33-year-old William Jacob Vellmure Jr. of San Jose was arrested on June 5 following an investigation reopened two years ago by the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Vellmure is being held without bail at the Santa Clara County Main Jail on murder charges. He was charged and arraigned on June 7, according to court records.

Police have not released a motive or exact cause for the May 18, 2026 shooting that resulted in the death of 38-year-old San Jose resident George Garza. The shooting occurred just after 10 p.m., when a man standing on a nearby sidewalk opened fire on Garza, who was standing outside a restaurant on South First Street near Edwards Avenue, witnesses told this news organization at the time.

Garza was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. Witnesses say the shooting happened quickly and then they saw a startled Garza and the shooter running around a corner out of sight.

In a statement, Acting Police Chief Paul Joseph praised the homicide detectives and investigators from the District Attorney’s Office investigating the case for making the arrest in the case.

“Closing this seven-year-old murder case was a direct result of the persistence and determination of our homicide detectives, as well as the assistance of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Investigations Unit,” Joseph said.

This is a developing story. Check for updates.