A mass shooting in Sacramento, California on Sunday morning has left 6 people dead and 12 wounded. Police say there were reports of an earlier altercation in the area preceding the shooting but they have yet to determine if these events are related.
In a statement from the Sacramento Police Department, officers responded to shots that were fired in the vicinity of 10th Street and K Street. Upon their arrival at the scene, cops found a large group of individuals that were gathered around along with several gunshot victims on the ground. About 50 first responders along with 10 ambulances from the Sacramento Fire Department arrived at the horrific shooting scene in an area that is packed with restaurants and bars and nightclubs that were about to close at 2 am.
"Officers began life-saving measures to multiple victims on scene. Despite these efforts, six victims were pronounced deceased at the scene. Twelve other victims with varying degrees of injuries have also been located," the police statement said.
Reminder: K St Shooting
— Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) April 3, 2022
City Hall has been opened as an information center for families of victims of this incident. City staff and a police presence will be on scene for assistance.#sacpd pic.twitter.com/OCh639j1Sy
Among those who lost their lives included three men and three women. All 12 of the wounded were taken to area hospitals for treatment no information on their current conditions has been released. Sacramento Police Chief Katherine Lester said investigators are working on identifying the people responsible for the horrific act.
In a news conference Sunday afternoon, Lester addressed the media, “We know that a large fight took place just prior to the shootings. And we have confirmed that there are multiple shooters."
Pending notification of the victims’ families, the identities of the six people that died are being withheld. The police chief however noted that all the victims were adults. Lester added that homicide detectives and crime scene investigators have gathered pieces of evidence, including a stolen handgun recovered at the scene, and are reviewing videos sent by witnesses as well as footage captured by a police camera in the area. The police appealed to the public to send in photos and videos that may help in the investigation.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom said officials are monitoring the situation and are working closely with law enforcement. “The scourge of gun violence continues to be a crisis in our country, and we must resolve to bring an end to this carnage.”
At the same time, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg urged the public to put an end to gun violence. Not just in the state of California but throughout the United States. "It's a sickness in our country, it's a sickness in our culture," he said.
This is the third time this year that at least six people were killed in a mass shooting in the United States and the second mass shooting in Sacramento over the past five weeks.
