At approximately 11:15 PM on Monday, December 30, 2024, Central Division Patrol Deputies responded to a residence on the 9300 block of Wild Lilac Circle to assist the Sacramento Metro Fire District on a call for service with an adult male, who was believed to be combative with Fire personnel.  The caller reported that the male subject was hallucinating, thinking there were people on the roof trying to kill him and his parents. That subject was known to law enforcement, as he was on active parole for firearms-related charges. Fire personnel staged nearby until Deputies could arrive.

When Deputies arrived, the subject’s mother exited from the front door and told Deputies that the subject was inside the residence with a kitchen knife. Deputies had the mother exit the residence and asked about any other family members or individuals still inside in an attempt to evacuate the residence, to isolate and contain the subject.  While doing so, the subject came to the threshold of the front door of the residence, armed with a large kitchen knife.  

As one Deputy (Deputy 1) attempted to speak to the subject and de-escalate the situation by trying to convince him to drop the knife, the second Deputy (Deputy 2) went back to his vehicle to retrieve a less lethal shotgun. Just moments later, as Deputy 2 was walking back to the residence, the male subject charged toward Deputy 1 with the knife.  Deputy 1 attempted to retreat, and Deputy 2 deployed at least two less lethal shotgun rounds, which had seemingly no effect.  The subject continued to advance with the knife for approximately 60 feet, when Deputy 1 lost his footing and fell to the ground.  The subject continued to advance and got within just a few yards of Deputy 1, when Deputy 1 fired several rounds from his duty handgun while still on the ground.

At least one of those rounds mortally wounded the subject, who was pronounced deceased at the scene moments later by Fire personnel.  Identification of the deceased will be made available by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office in accordance with their protocols.

The investigation into this incident is still ongoing and will be conducted by the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Professional Standards Division, which is standard practice for any officer-involved shooting that occurs in the Sheriff’s Office’s jurisdiction.  An independent review of the incident will be conducted by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.  In accordance with the Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, the Deputy involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Sergeant Amar Gandhi
Sheriff’s Spokesman