At least five people fired weapons during Sunday’s massacre in downtown Sacramento that six people and left a dozen other injured, police said Wednesday.
While the motive behind the shooting is still unknown, investigators are fairly certain gang violence was what caused the tragedy to unfold.
In a a from Sacramento police said: ‘It is increasingly clear that gang violence is at the center of this tragedy. While we cannot at this time elaborate on the precise gang affiliation of individuals involved, gangs and gang violence are inseparable from the events that drove these shootings.’
Police said at least two gangs were involved, but declined to name the gangs or clarify if any of the suspects are believed to be affiliated with any gangs.
Three arrests have been made in the wake of the shooting, which took place around 2 am Sunday morning in a popular downtown area packed with people leaving bars and clubs.
Police have arrested three men they believe were involved in the violence.
Smiley Martin, 27, who was injured in the shooting, was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a machine gun. Officials have charged his younger brother, Dandrae Martin, 26, with assault and firearm possession offenses.
A law enforcement source told the that the brothers are associated with a Crips gang while others involved in the shooting have ties to a Bloods gang that historically is a rival.
Another man, Daviyonne Dawson, 31, was arrested and booked on suspicion of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
No one has been charged with homicide yet. At least two people caught in the crossfire remain hospitalized with gunshot wounds while the 10 others injured have been discharged.
Three men and three women were in the massacre. They’ve been identified as Johntaya Alexander, 21; Melinda Davis, 57; Sergio Harris, 38; Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi, 32; Yamile Martinez-Andrade, 21; Davazia Turner, 29.
‘This tragedy downtown is a very public example of what families in many of our neighborhoods know too well, ‘ said Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester in a statement Wednesday.
‘The suffering inflicted by gang violence does not limit itself to gang members. It spills over to claim and shatter innocent lives and harm our entire community.’
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