A day after two men were shot dead in the parking lot of the Brass Rail in Sunnyvale, investigators with the Department of Public Safety were searching for the killer whom they believe is a 29-year-old San Mateo man.
Monday night, police identified the victims as Jason William Gamino, 29, of San Mateo and Benjamin Osegura, 31, of Menlo Park - acquaintances who were both shot while sitting in a 2006 Range Rover parked in front of the South Bay gentleman's club.
Police said the suspect, Matthew Andrew O'Reilly, was last seen driving a silver 2006 Nissan Ultima with the California license plate of 5UFY655. Police did not disclose why they believe O'Reilly is the suspect, but earlier in the evening they were studying hours of security tapes described as "useful" from both inside and out of the bar.
Monday, some of the bikini-clad dancers at the bar were reportedly too traumatized to show up for their shifts.
"I've tried to calm them down," said George Kakoliris, the day manager of the exotic dancing establishment known for its prime rib special and performers such as Asia and Sapphire. "I'm so depressed. But we are safe now and we have to deal with this tragedy."
This was no random shooting, according to Doug Moretto, a captain with the Department of Public Safety.
"Investigators are spending a lot of time connecting the dots," Moretto said. "What we believe is that this is not a random act of violence."
But Moretto was mostly tight-lipped about suspects, victims and what may have sparked the carnage under the cocktail sign - a rare multiple-homicide in a city that only has a few slayings a year.
There were about 40 people inside and outside the club at the time of the shooting about 9:35 p.m. Sunday, and those clubgoers and employees provided police with a lot of information, Moretto said.
The shooting victims came into the club around 8 p.m, according to the Brass Rail's longtime owner, George Frangadakis. Sometime about 9:30 p.m., the group of three men left the club, located near Highway 101 and Mathilda Avenue.
Moments later, one of the men came running back inside, screaming about a shooting.
The Brass Rail's night manager ran outside and saw one of the club's longtime customers down in the parking lot, according to Frangadakis, who was not at the club when the shooting happened.
"He turned him over and watched him die," said Frangadakis, 90, who has operated the club since 1960. "He's freaked out. I'm freaked out. It's the first time this has happened and I'm taking it very personally."
What triggered the shooting remains a mystery to Frangadakis and his staff.
Before the shooting, it was an otherwise slow night at the Brass Rail, Frangadakis said. There were four bouncers working that night - and there wasn't a skirmish or fight to indicate a more deadly encounter was about to happen in the parking lot, he said.
"I've got good security. I had my best guy on the door," Frangadakis said. "Why it happened, I don't know."
Frangadakis said the club's security system includes 34 cameras that patrol the strip club and parking lot. However, the shooting happened outside the camera's range, he said.
"I'm going to add more cameras to prevent this from happening again," Frangadakis said. "I'm so upset. I'm taking this personally. I don't want it to happen again."
O'Reilly is considered armed and dangerous and anyone with information on this crime can contact Detective Jose Ramirez, at (408) 730-7120 or (408) 730-7110.
Monday night, police identified the victims as Jason William Gamino, 29, of San Mateo and Benjamin Osegura, 31, of Menlo Park - acquaintances who were both shot while sitting in a 2006 Range Rover parked in front of the South Bay gentleman's club.
Police said the suspect, Matthew Andrew O'Reilly, was last seen driving a silver 2006 Nissan Ultima with the California license plate of 5UFY655. Police did not disclose why they believe O'Reilly is the suspect, but earlier in the evening they were studying hours of security tapes described as "useful" from both inside and out of the bar.
Monday, some of the bikini-clad dancers at the bar were reportedly too traumatized to show up for their shifts.
"I've tried to calm them down," said George Kakoliris, the day manager of the exotic dancing establishment known for its prime rib special and performers such as Asia and Sapphire. "I'm so depressed. But we are safe now and we have to deal with this tragedy."
This was no random shooting, according to Doug Moretto, a captain with the Department of Public Safety.
"Investigators are spending a lot of time connecting the dots," Moretto said. "What we believe is that this is not a random act of violence."
But Moretto was mostly tight-lipped about suspects, victims and what may have sparked the carnage under the cocktail sign - a rare multiple-homicide in a city that only has a few slayings a year.
There were about 40 people inside and outside the club at the time of the shooting about 9:35 p.m. Sunday, and those clubgoers and employees provided police with a lot of information, Moretto said.
The shooting victims came into the club around 8 p.m, according to the Brass Rail's longtime owner, George Frangadakis. Sometime about 9:30 p.m., the group of three men left the club, located near Highway 101 and Mathilda Avenue.
Moments later, one of the men came running back inside, screaming about a shooting.
The Brass Rail's night manager ran outside and saw one of the club's longtime customers down in the parking lot, according to Frangadakis, who was not at the club when the shooting happened.
"He turned him over and watched him die," said Frangadakis, 90, who has operated the club since 1960. "He's freaked out. I'm freaked out. It's the first time this has happened and I'm taking it very personally."
What triggered the shooting remains a mystery to Frangadakis and his staff.
Before the shooting, it was an otherwise slow night at the Brass Rail, Frangadakis said. There were four bouncers working that night - and there wasn't a skirmish or fight to indicate a more deadly encounter was about to happen in the parking lot, he said.
"I've got good security. I had my best guy on the door," Frangadakis said. "Why it happened, I don't know."
Frangadakis said the club's security system includes 34 cameras that patrol the strip club and parking lot. However, the shooting happened outside the camera's range, he said.
"I'm going to add more cameras to prevent this from happening again," Frangadakis said. "I'm so upset. I'm taking this personally. I don't want it to happen again."
O'Reilly is considered armed and dangerous and anyone with information on this crime can contact Detective Jose Ramirez, at (408) 730-7120 or (408) 730-7110.
