Campus police said the man and woman were not affiliated with the university.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A man and woman were found dead Saturday afternoon inside a parked car at San Jose State University’s West Garage, prompting an investigation by campus police during a quiet holiday weekend after commencement events had ended.
San Jose State University police said officers responded just after 2 p.m. to the garage at 350 S. Fourth St. after a report of two people unresponsive in a vehicle. The deaths raised concern because the garage is a central campus parking structure open to students, workers, visitors and the public.
Officers found a male adult and an adult female inside the vehicle and began giving medical aid, authorities said. Firefighters also responded and tried CPR, but both people were pronounced dead at 2:20 p.m. Capt. Jermaine Thomas of the San Jose State University Police Department said investigators determined the two were “non-affiliates,” meaning they were not students, faculty members or staff.
The first report came after someone noticed the pair in the vehicle earlier in the day, then saw them still there several hours later, Thomas said. Police have not said how long the car had been parked in the garage, who owned it or whether anything was found inside. Their names were not released while officials worked to notify relatives.
Campus police said there was no ongoing threat to the university community and that investigators were not searching for suspects. Officials said the cause and manner of death remained under investigation. Police said they were considering the possibility of an overdose, but they had not confirmed that as the cause.
The West Garage sits along South Fourth Street near the edge of the downtown San Jose campus. The structure is open 24 hours a day and requires payment to park. The discovery came after spring classes and graduation ceremonies had wrapped up, leaving fewer students on campus than during a regular school week.
Investigators were reviewing campus surveillance video as part of the case. The Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office is expected to determine the official cause and manner of death. As of Monday, authorities had not announced whether toxicology testing would be needed or how long the identification process might take.
Students and recent graduates said the discovery was unsettling because the garage is familiar to commuters and downtown visitors. Anthony Garcia, a San Jose State student, said he generally feels safer on campus than in some nearby areas. Rebekah Rardin, a recent graduate, said she parked in the same garage Saturday while attending a nearby event.
The investigation remained open Monday, with the victims’ identities pending family notification and official findings from the medical examiner.
Author note: Last updated Monday, May 25, 2026.