Sacramento shooting: Police don't have a suspect in custody (2025)

Posted April 3, 2022 at 8:07 PM EDT

All students at the University of California Center Sacramento, which is about a block from where the shooting took place, are safe and accounted for, said UC Davis Chancellor Gary May.

UC Davis manages UC Center Sacramento, which offers a public policy program for participants across the UC system. Faculty and staff, in addition to the 28 students participating in the program are safe, May said in a statement.

"To those students and their families, we realize how frightened and overwhelmed you might feel," May said.

The UC Davis Medical Center is treating multiple victims of the shooting, May said.

May offered sympathy and support to the Sacramento community.

"We are all interconnected, and days like this remind us that we must do all we can to prevent gun violence," May said. "We must put an end to gun violence that impacts families and communities long after headlines turn to other global events."

Posted April 3, 2022 at 8:02 PM EDT

Police say they have confirmed multiple shooters were involved in a shooting that killed six people and injured at least 12 others early Sunday morning in downtown Sacramento.

Sacramento police chief Kathy Lester told reporters Sunday evening that a fight took place prior to the shooting. Authorities have identified hundreds of pieces of evidence at the scene, including a stolen handgun, Lester said.

Police have interviewed multiple witnesses and have police camera footage that capture parts of the incident, Lester said.

"What happened last night is the biggest and most recent example of what we all know," Lester said. "Gun violence is truly a crisis in our community."

Mayor Darrell Steinberg noted that gun violence is not a "Sacramento issue," but a "sickness in our culture."

Steinberg made a distinction in comparing the threat of so-called ghost guns — which can be assembled from parts and are untraceable — to that of firearms for hunting, sport or self-defense.

"Can't we agree that on one side of the line, firearms for hunting, for sport, even for self-defense is OK," Steinberg began "And on the other hand, ghost guns ... are absolutely unacceptable in our community and in our country."

Police have not confirmed whether or not a ghost gun was used in the shooting, Lester said.

Acknowledging potential public apprehension about the safety of downtown Sacramento after such an event, Steinberg said: "Let's not forget, this is a downtown and a central city that we want to continue to build and to grow."

"We're just getting back our legs and momentum," the mayor said, citing recent concerts and long reservation wait times at local restaurants.

"Come on down," Steinberg said. "We will stand with each other, we'll protect each other and we will stand with our chief here as [Police Chief Lester] and the department goes all out to make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice."

Posted April 3, 2022 at 3:43 PM EDT

Sacramento Police have identified 12 people with varying degrees of injuries, in addition to the six people who died after an early morning shooting that took place in the area of 10th Street and K Street near the state Capitol.

The police tweeted: "there are a total of 18 gunshot victims. 12 victims are being treated at area hospitals."

Police confirmed those casualties in an afternoon news release following an earlier report that 10 people had been hospitalized.

"Officers began live-saving measures to multiple victims on scene," police said. "Despite these efforts, six victims were pronounced deceased at the scene."

At least one firearm was recovered at the scene during the preliminary stages of investigation, police said. No further information was given about authorities' search for a suspect.

Posted April 3, 2022 at 2:35 PM EDT

David Odisho

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Getty Images

Speaking to the media, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said the city has a broken heart after Sunday's shooting.

He called the shooting a senseless and unacceptable tragedy.

Steinberg called on the city, state and country to address what he referred to as a senseless epidemic of gun violence. He also said it was unacceptable that people can have ready access to assault weapons and use them indiscriminately.

The mayor wasn’t able to provide any further information on the investigation into the shooting, but said the police department would likely update the situation in the next couple of hours.

Posted April 3, 2022 at 12:57 PM EDT

The Sacramento Police Department says other nearby law enforcement agencies will lend assistance as the department focuses on investigating the shooting.

Sacramento Sheriff’s deputies and Elk Grove Police Department officers may respond to calls for service in the city, officials announced.

“We would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their assistance,” the police said.

Posted April 3, 2022 at 12:33 PM EDT

Though details remain scant, public officials in California are condemning the early morning shooting in Sacramento. At least six people have died.

“Yet another mass casualty shooting - leaving families with lost loved ones, people injured, and a community in grief,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a tweet. “We cannot continue to let gun violence be the new normal.”

Newsom said his administration was working closely with state and local law enforcement to monitor the situation.

Sen. Alex Padilla said he was “horrified and deeply saddened” by the shooting.

“My prayers are with the victims and their families — and the entire Sacramento community,” he added.

Rep. Doris Matsui, whose district includes Sacramento, said she was “devastated for the victims and their loved ones” who were affected by the shooting and expressed support for the efforts of community responders and the police.

“Our city is suffering from an indescribable pain and sadness at the senseless loss of our community members,” she added. “Too many lives have been taken. Many many more will forever be altered.”

Posted April 3, 2022 at 12:26 PM EDT

Sacramento police are aware of a social media video that shows an altercation that took place immediately before the shooting.

In the video, about a dozen people are seen fighting on the street right before gun shots are heard. As the shots ring out, people are seen running away from the scene. NPR has not independently verified the video.

At this point, there is no evidence to suggest the two events are connected.

The police are encouraging members of the public who might have any related videos to submit them to authorities. The department also confirmed that an information center has been opened in City Hall for families of the victims.

Posted April 3, 2022 at 11:29 AM EDT

Berry Accius, who runs the nonprofit Voice of the Youth, told member station Capital Public Radio that he went downtown around 2:45 a.m. after hearing about the shooting and saw the aftermath.

“When I first came, I saw a victim who was injured, draped in blood, and another person screaming about her son. … Another lady screaming, saying she saw her sister take her last breath,” he told the station.

Accius said there didn’t appear to be enough medical assistance to treat all the victims at first.

He noted that the shooting came after other incidents of gun violence in Sacramento.

The city saw 57 homicides in 2021 — the highest since 2006 — and the majority of which were committed with guns, according to the Sacramento Bee.

“If this is not a wake-up call for Sacramento and the things we need to do to change gun violence, I don’t know what is,” Accius said. “We can’t keep on doing this, it’s too much.”

Posted April 3, 2022 at 10:56 AM EDT

Rich Pedroncelli

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AP

Calling the shooting a "really tragic situation," Police Chief Kathy Lester told reporters at a news conference that authorities did not have any suspects in custody and are asking for help from the public.

She urged anyone to come forward who witnessed anything, has video related to the incident or has other information for the police.

Lester said the shooting occurred around 2 a.m. local timein the area of 10th and K streets. Police officers nearby heard gunfire and responded to the scene, she said.

Posted April 3, 2022 at 10:55 AM EDT

Mayor Darrell Steinberg wrote Sunday that "the numbers of dead and wounded are difficult to comprehend" after a shooting in downtown Sacramento left at least 6 people dead and 10 others hospitalized.

"Words can't express my shock & sadness this morning," he wrote.

"We await more information about exactly what transpired in this tragic incident."

Posted April 3, 2022 at 10:55 AM EDT

Six people are dead and at least 10others were hospitalizedafter a predawn shooting in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, police said.

Earlier in the morning, Sacramento Police said in a tweet that they had closed the area from 9th Street to 13th Street between L Street and J Street and urged people to avoid the area because of a "large police presence."