On October 14th, 2020, at approximately 10:30pm, The Merced County Sheriff’s Office was advised by the Milpitas Police Department and United States Marshalls Service that a wanted suspect in a murder investigation was currently staying at the Motel 6 in Santa Nella.

Based upon information that the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Kevin James Gitmed, may be armed with a gun, the Merced County Sheriff’s SWAT Team was requested for assistance.

As SWAT Team members arrived at the hotel, they surrounded the room where Gitmed was staying and told him to exit the room and surrender. However, a short time later, a single gunshot was heard from inside the room.

Several more calls from deputies into the room were not answered, so an unmanned arial vehicle (UAV) was used to look into the room. It was at that time deputies observed Gitmed had succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot . Deputies attempted life saving measures, but Gitmed was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gitmed’s death is currently being investigated as a suicide by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office. For further questions regarding the homicide in Milpitas, the Milpitas Police Department is currently handling that investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400. Additionally, the information provided can be given anonymously by calling the Crime Tip Hotline at (408) 586-2500 or via the Milpitas Police Department Website at:

http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip