East Palo Alto police investigate death following University Avenue assault

Graphic illustration/East Palo Alto Today

Suspect booked on assault charge; police say investigation remains ongoing

A 52-year-old Menlo Park man died Thursday after suffering significant facial injuries in a reported assault on University Avenue in East Palo Alto, according to East Palo Alto Police Chief Jeff Liu. Officers were called to the 2300 block of University Avenue at approximately 2:21 p.m. on September 3, 2026, following reports of a man acting erratically and disrobing in public.

When officers arrived, they found the 52-year-old Menlo Park man suffering from significant facial injuries. The injured man told officers that he had been assaulted and identified the person he said was responsible, Liu said.

Officers contacted and detained the person identified by the victim. The suspect, whose name has not been released, was booked into the San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of assault resulting in great bodily injury and violation of parole.

The injured man was taken to Stanford Hospital for treatment. Liu said medical personnel at the hospital notified the Police Department at approximately 5 p.m. that the man had died from his injuries.

Police have not released the victim's name or provided additional information about what led to the reported assault. The department also has not announced whether the death has been formally classified as a homicide or whether additional charges will be sought following the man's death.

The death comes more than two years after East Palo Alto's last reported homicide, which occurred on April 8, 2024. Whether Thursday's death will be classified as the city's first homicide since then remains dependent on the findings of the investigation.

Liu said the investigation remains active and ongoing and that additional information will be released as it becomes available.