SACRAMENTO, CA – A bizarre scene unfolded in Sacramento at the Arena Boulevard Bel-Air grocery store at Market West. According to police, on Sunday at approximately 6:34 a.m., a Sacramento Police Department patrol officer responded to the 3200 block of Arena Boulevard regarding a solo vehicle colliding into a building. As the officer was responding to the scene, multiple callers from inside of a grocery store reported that the adult male involved in the collision was armed with a knife and acting erratically inside.
When the officer arrived, they contacted the male inside of the store who was still armed with the large knife. The officer then requested emergency assistance, and various outside agencies responded, as did multiple additional SPD officers. The Sacramento Police Department officer began to negotiate with him to drop the weapon as he was seen severely wounding himself. During the negotiations, which lasted over 20 minutes, other officers worked to safely evacuate the employees and customers from the store.
While officers continued to negotiate with the male, he charged towards them. Multiple less lethal options were deployed, but despite being struck, he continued to advance towards officers with the knife in his hand. One officer from the Sacramento Police Department and one officer from the California Highway Patrol discharged their handguns at the male, striking him.
Officers formed a contact team and rendered medical aid until Sacramento Fire Department personnel arrived on scene to take over. Despite these efforts, the male was declared deceased on scene.
This investigation is in the early stages and information is limited. Multiple employees and customers were witnesses to this incident and are being interviewed.
The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the deceased after the next of kin have been notified.
This incident is being investigated by the Sacramento Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Internal Affairs Division. The Office of Public Safety Accountability and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office are providing oversight by monitoring the investigation.
This incident falls under the City Council’s policy on Police Use of Force as well as SB 1421. As a result, the video and audio associated with this incident will be released to the public within 30 days. Detectives are in the process of identifying and retrieving video associated with this incident.
The Sacramento Police Department encourages any witnesses with information regarding this incident to contact the dispatch center at (916) 264-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000. Anonymous tips can also be submitted using the free “P3 Tips” smartphone app