By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer
A woman was shot at Florin Road and Greenhaven Drive in Greenhaven and later died at a nearby hospital on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, according to the Sacramento Police Department.
Police said that when officers arrived at Lake Crest Shopping Center they located a woman with at least one life-threatening gunshot wound. Sacramento Fire Department personnel took her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead, said a police statement.
A police spokesperson said the incident remains under investigation.
A family member told The OBSERVER that the victim was her cousin, Chasity Sparkman, a 26-year-old mother of two. Vanessa Renee-Adams said that earlier that night, Sparkman’s husband had beaten her.
“They met up and were talking, which turned into an argument. She of course got upset and he beat her up like she was a dude,” Renee-Adams said her cousin told her.
Renee-Adams said that after the alleged assault, Sparkman and her husband spoke on the phone again and arranged to meet again.
Police and the Sacramento County Coroner’s office have yet to release the identity of the victim, nor has law enforcement released information on a suspect.
“We haven’t gotten any answers,” Renee-Adams said. “We’re hurt like anyone would be.”
Berry Accius, founder of Voice of the Youth, advocated for many families who have been impacted by gun violence. Sparkman’s now joins the list.
Accius supported the family of 10-year-old KJ Frierson who was killed in late December by another 10-year-old boy who retrieved a stolen gun from his father’s car.
Accius said he is frustrated for two reasons: seeing people unnecessarily resorting to gun violence over heated arguments and a lack of urgency from law enforcement to find justice for Black victims.
“Something that ends up being an argument or a fight ends up ending violently,” Accius said.
Accius said that it feels like Sparkman’s death doesn’t matter to law enforcement.
“A young Black mother was killed in a very popular shopping center in a decent neighborhood and everyone is silent about it,” Accius said.
There will be a vigil for Sparkman at Lake Crest Shopping Center near Shari’s Restaurant on Feb. 21. at 6 p.m.
Sparkman leaves an eight year old son and six year old daughter who are now being cared for by their aunt.
The family has set up a Cash App account, $Justice4Chasity, for her children.