The Sacramento community was rocked by the news that one of the suspects in the mass shooting that claimed the lives of six people in April 2022 has died in county jail. Smiley Martin, 29, was found unresponsive in his cell on Saturday morning, with authorities unable to revive him.
Martin, along with two other individuals, was charged in connection to the shooting that also left 12 people injured, marking it as the worst mass shooting in Sacramento’s history. The suspect had pleaded not guilty to murder and firearm charges and was awaiting preliminary hearings in Sacramento’s main county jail.
Details surrounding Martin’s death remain unclear, with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office launching an investigation into the incident. Martin’s lawyer, Norman Dawson, confirmed his client’s passing and stated that further information would be released once the investigation concludes.
The tragic shooting took place in the early hours of April 3, 2022, near downtown nightclubs, where a gang fight erupted, resulting in over 100 shots fired. The victims, ranging from 21 to 57 years old, included an aspiring social worker and a homeless woman who frequented the area.
John Alexander, the father of one of the victims, expressed his grief during a court hearing, lamenting the loss of his daughter and the impact of the tragedy on their family. Leia Schenk, founder of the nonprofit Empact, highlighted the ongoing trauma experienced by the families of the victims and the community as they continue to grapple with the aftermath of the shooting.
With two other suspects still facing charges in connection to the mass shooting, concerns have been raised about the safety of Dandrae Martin, Smiley’s brother, who remains in the same jail. The recent deaths of two other individuals in the county jail have further heightened these concerns, prompting calls for increased oversight and accountability within the system.
As the community mourns the loss of both the victims of the mass shooting and now one of the suspects, the impact of gun violence continues to reverberate throughout Sacramento. The quest for justice and healing remains ongoing as the city grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event.
