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A shooting that claimed the life of a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employee at a bus yard late Friday may have been the result of a dispute over money, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office officials said Monday.
San Jose resident Duc Minh Bui, 33, also a VTA employee, was taken into custody about 12:15 p.m. Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office said.
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In a news conference Monday, Capt. Sugey Jaimez of the Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services Division said officers arrived at 9:53 p.m. at the employee parking lot of VTA’s Chaboya Division bus yard to find the victim near his vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but the victim was declared dead at the scene.
“Both victim and suspect were VTA employees,” Jaimez said. “They were both employed as bus drivers and assigned to the Chaboya yard. They were known to participate in the same activities outside of their VTA employment. And most importantly, although this investigation is still ongoing, we believe the motive had to do with money owed between the two from their betting activities, which had nothing to do with their employment.”
VTA CEO Carolyn Gonot identified the victim as Regulus Teotico, a longtime VTA employee.
“We’re fortunate to have him as part of our staff for 10 years. He was a kind, hard-working driver who was well known amongst his colleagues. Regulus was father to two teenage children, and everyone in VTA extends their deepest condolences to Regulus’ family and friends,” Gonot said Monday.
The Sheriff’s Office said there was no ongoing threat to employees or the community, although on Saturday it posted on social media that it was increasing deputies’ presence near the bus yard on South Seventh Street, and the VTA said it was increasing security at all of its facilities.
“This was a senseless crime, without question, and while it was an isolated targeted event, we recognize the profound impact it has had on all of us,” Sheriff Bob Jonsen said at the Monday news conference. “While our thoughts are with the victim’s family and VTA community during this difficult time … we will do everything we can to ensure there is stabilization in the environment that they work in, and that they feel comfortable and safe.”
“While our thoughts are with the victim’s family and VTA community during this difficult time … we will do everything we can to ensure there is stabilization in the environment that they work in, and that they feel comfortable and safe.”
Sheriff Bob Jonsen
Friday’s shooting was the latest act of gun violence at a VTA facility. On May 26, 2021, a disgruntled employee at the nearby Guadalupe Light Rail Yard on West Younger Avenue shot and killed nine coworkers before killing himself. Another employee who witnessed the shooting later died of an apparent suicide, according to a report from the California Public Utilities Commission.
The VTA said it was making mental health workers available to employees and their families after Friday’s shooting.
Anyone with information helpful to the investigation is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 408-808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at 408-808-4431.
Bay City News staff writer Glenn Gehlke contributed to this story.
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