3 dead, 1 hospitalized in suspected fentanyl overdose in Gilroy: sheriff

GILROY, Calif. - Three men died, and a fourth man was hospitalized after a suspected overdose of fentanyl in Gilroy, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff.

Deputies and CalFire crews found the bodies in a home in the 10000 block of Garcia Lane just after 3 p.m. on Monday. 

Sgt. Russell Davis said that deputies found four men, all in their 50s, who were not responsive. They immediately provided help, the sheriff's office said, and gave them Narcan.

Three of the four were pronounced dead by CalFire. The fourth person was taken to Saint Louise Regional Medical Condition and his condition is not yet known.

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Sheriff's deputies said they believe that the people died because they ingested fentanyl but said the Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.

The Sheriff’s Office said just two milligrams of fentanyl, or the amount that fits on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially deadly dose. Victims can also unknowingly take fentanyl when it’s clandestinely laced in fake prescription pills or other drugs.

This is just the latest in a series of Bay Area fentanyl deaths.

In March 2022, for example, three people died in San Francisco of fentanyl, after friends thought they were buying cocaine and didn't realize it was laced. 

According to the California Department of Health, there were  6,843 opioid-related overdose deaths in California in 2021, and 5,722 of these deaths were related to fentanyl. 

 Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office at (408) 808-4500.