By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer
The Sacramento Police Department is investigating a rash of fatal shootings that have left at least five people dead.
The latest shooting took place on the morning of September 27 near the 3800 block of 6th Avenue in Oak Park. Police say an adult male got himself to the hospital, but later died.
The man’s identity has not been made public yet, pending notification to his family. He became the fifth shooting fatality across four local incidents in less than 72 hours.
“Unchecked violent crime destroys our community and harms families, relationships, and critical community infrastructure,” Police Chief Kathy Lester said in a statement.
On September 26, shortly after 11:20 p.m., Sacramento Police Department patrol officers responded to the 30 block of Arcade Boulevard for a report of a shooting and a residence that was on fire. Two adult men with gunshot wounds were found nearby on the 3600 block of Waynesburg Way. One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene.
Around the same time on the same day, two people were found dead from gunshot wounds inside a parked car near the 2000 block of San Juan Road. One victim was an adult man and the second, a male teenager.
On September 25, just before 1:00 a.m., officers responded to the area of 28th Street and J Street regarding multiple reports of a shooting. An adult man was located near the intersection, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Attempts to provide emergency medical aid were unsuccessful and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sacramento area has been rocked by a number of shootings in recent months. On April 3, six people — Johntaya Alexander, Melinda Davis, Yamile Martinez-Andrade, Sergio Harris, Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi and De’Vazia Turner — were killed in a mass shooting on K Street as a crowd left a local nightclub. Davis was an unhoused woman believed to be sleeping in the area.
“Reducing violent crime remains a top priority for us. The Sacramento Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance as we continue our efforts to combat these tragic incidents. It is vital to remain unified as we work to reduce harm in our city,” Chief Lester said.
A deadly summer and fall has the SacPD investigating quite a few homicides.
On September 14, just before 11:25 a.m., a man was shot dead near the 200 block of Bannon Street.
On the early morning of September 13, one of two shooting victims on the 1600 block of West El Camino Avenue died.
Police say a man was shot dead early on August 22 while trying to confront a robbery suspect.
In the early morning hours of August 3, a woman was found near the 2600 block of Gateway Oaks Drive, fatally shot.
On July 3, local football coach Gregory Najee Grimes was fatally shot leaving a downtown club.
“Violent crime prevention is a shared responsibility. As the Sacramento Police Department continues to work to reduce violent crime in our city, incidents like this underscore the importance of collaboration and intervention before tragedies like this can occur,” Chief Lester continued.
The Sacramento Police Department encourages any witnesses with information regarding the recent shootings to contact the dispatch center at (916) 808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Anonymous tips can also be submitted using a “P3 Tips” smartphone app.