SAN JOSE — A man accused of stabbing a police officer is likely to face attempted murder charges following a Tuesday morning sequence in which he allegedly threatened a security guard with a machete inside a Target store just outside downtown, authorities said.
Eli Scott, 41, of San Jose, was arrested May 6, 2025 on suspicion of stabbing a police officer minutes after he allegedly threatened a Target security guard with a machete, authorities say. (San Jose Police Dept.)
Eli Scott, 41, of San Jose, was being held without bail at the Santa Clara County Main Jail, where records show he was booked on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, assault with a deadly weapon, and brandishing a weapon.
Scott was inside the Target on Coleman Avenue around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday and appeared to be intoxicated when he pointed a machete at an armed security guard, according to San Jose police. The guard approached, with his hand apparently ready to draw his firearm, which prompted Scott to run off, ditching the machete in his escape.
Police were called, and one of the responding officers spotted Scott, who brandished a different knife at the officer before running across Autumn Parkway toward a field, where two more officers arrived and chased him. At some point, police said, Scott slipped and fell, and the two officers sought to detain him.
Police said Scott resisted the officers, and stabbed one of them in the upper arm, then tried to stab the second officer.
“The suspect was eventually disarmed and taken into custody after a significant struggle,” police said in a Wednesday news release.
The injured officer, who police said has been with SJPD for two and a half years, was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery to repair his wounds. Scott was also taken to a hospital where he was treated for minor injuries before being booked into jail.
“Every day, our officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. This violent attack is a stark reminder of that reality,” Police Chief Paul Joseph said in a statement. “We’re grateful our injured officer is expected to recover, and thankful he was able to intervene before anyone else was harmed.”
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In the aftermath of the stabbing, the San Jose Police Officers’ Association noted that Scott is currently on felony probation and is the subject of an arrest warrant, and police stated that he has an “extensive” criminal history. Court records show his most recent felony conviction is from 2024, and that he was on the mental health treatment calendar with the Superior Court.
Mayor Matt Mahan said the stabbing reinforces the urgent need for more mental health and drug treatment capacity from the state and county.
“It is horrifying to imagine walking into a Target and running into a man with a machete,” Mahan said in a statement. “Because of the dangerous actions of someone who clearly needed to be behind bars or in secure treatment, a San Jose police officer is in the hospital instead of on patrol.”
Anyone with information for investigators regarding Tuesday’s stabbing can contact Detective Richard MacInnes with the SJPD assaults unit at 408-277-4161 or by email at [email protected]. Tips can also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.