Campus police said the man and woman were not students or university employees.
SAN JOSE, CA — A man and woman were found dead Saturday afternoon inside a parked car at San Jose State University’s West Garage, prompting a campus police investigation during a quiet holiday weekend after commencement ceremonies had ended.
San Jose State University police said officers responded just after 2 p.m. to the garage at 350 S. Fourth St. after someone reported two people unresponsive in a vehicle. The deaths drew concern because they happened in a central campus parking structure that is open to the public. Police said there was no ongoing threat to the university community and that investigators were not searching for suspects.
Officers arrived at the garage and began giving medical aid to the two adults, authorities said. Firefighters also responded and tried CPR, but the man and woman were pronounced dead at 2:20 p.m. Their names were not released while officials worked to notify their relatives. San Jose State University Police Department Capt. Jermaine Thomas said officers found “a male adult and an adult female” inside the vehicle. He said investigators had determined that the two were “non-affiliates,” meaning they were not connected to the university as students, faculty members or staff.
The first report came after a person noticed the two people inside 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 any items were found inside. The cause and manner of death remained under investigation. Campus police said investigators were looking at the possibility of an overdose, but officials had not confirmed that as the cause. No arrests were announced, and police said no suspects were being sought.
The West Garage sits along South Fourth Street near the edge of the downtown San Jose campus. The structure is used by students, workers, visitors and members of the public, and it remains open around the clock with paid parking. The deaths happened after San Jose State had finished spring classes and after graduation events had wrapped up, leaving fewer students on campus than during a regular school week. The timing also placed the investigation near downtown events and traffic tied to the Memorial Day weekend.
Investigators were reviewing campus surveillance video as part of the case, police said. The Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office is expected to determine the official cause and manner of death after its review. As of Monday, authorities had not announced whether toxicology testing would be needed or how long the identification process might take. Police did not release a detailed timeline beyond the afternoon response and the 2:20 p.m. pronouncement, and they had not said whether the man and woman knew each other.
Students and recent graduates said the discovery was unsettling because the garage is a familiar place for commuters and 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 had parked in the same garage Saturday while attending an event downtown. “I feel like that’s pretty crazy,” Rardin said, adding that campus alerts usually involve less serious reports. Police said the investigation had not found a danger to others on campus.
The investigation remained open Monday, with the victims’ identities pending family notification and official findings from the medical examiner. Campus police said updates would depend on the results of the death investigation and the review of evidence from the garage.
Author note: Last updated Monday, May 25, 2026.