The Brief
The San Jose Police Department told KTVU that officers responded just after 9:05 a.m. to the 1800 block of Naples Drive on reports of a “disturbance involving a weapon.”
The suspect assaulted his neighbor with the machete before fleeing back into his home and refusing orders from police to come back out.
The suspect was arrested by about 4:20 p.m.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – An East San Jose man is recovering after he says his neighbor attacked him from behind with a machete Sunday morning, leaving him with a head wound that required about a dozen staples.
Alberto Cuevas, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years, told KTVU the attack followed years of alleged threats and disputes with the man who lives across the street.
“I’m scared in the morning because I can see I have a lot of blood and everything there, but I’m okay, I’m okay now, I’m lucky I survive it today,” said Cuevas.
San Jose police said officers responded to a disturbance involving a weapon in the 1800 block of Naples Drive at approximately 9:07 a.m. Sunday.
Investigators said an adult male suspect assaulted his adult male neighbor with a machete before retreating into his own home and refusing to come outside.
The victim was transported to a local hospital.
Heavily armed officers, a police canine and a SWAT vehicle surrounded the residence during an hours-long standoff.
KTVU cameras captured officers bringing a man out on a gurney, tending to him and securing restraints around his ankles. Police have not confirmed the man’s identity or whether he was injured.
The department said at approximately 4:20 p.m., the suspect was taken into custody.
Cuevas, who has since returned home from the hospital, said he was cleaning his backyard when his neighbor suddenly struck him in the back of the head.
He also shared cellphone video with KTVU showing what he described as a previous incident involving his neighbor swinging a machete in his driveway.
Victim describes years of alleged threats and police complaints
Dig deeper
Cuevas said Sunday’s attack was the first time his neighbor had physically assaulted him, but claimed the man had threatened to kill him over the years.
He said he has repeatedly contacted police about his neighbor over the years and showed KTVU police incident cards documenting reports of vandalism and burglary.
Cuevas alleged that his neighbor had broken windows at his home and stolen property. He also said he had obtained restraining orders against the man.
He believes he was targeted because he is one of the few people in the neighborhood willing to report the alleged crimes to police.
Another neighbor, who asked not to be identified or shown on camera, described a different impression of the man accused in the attack.
“I always see him standing in front of the house and saying hi to everybody…he’s very quiet,” said the neighbor. “Every time I move my car out, I push my trash can, he always sees me, he says ‘hi.'”
Still, the incident has shaken residents of the neighborhood.
“I have four little children here, so especially with all this going on, it’s kind of scary,” said the neighbor.
Speaking in Spanish, Cuevas said he was frustrated and scared following the attack. He said he fears for his family’s safety and hopes the man accused of attacking him will remain behind bars.
San Jose police have not released the suspect’s identity or confirmed the history of alleged threats and restraining orders described by Cuevas.
The circumstances leading up to the attack remain under investigation.
Betty Yu is a KTVU FOX 2 reporter. Follow her on Instagram and X at @bett_yu.
The Source
Information for this story came from the San Jose Police Department. Interview with victim and neighbor.