The shooting at Natomas High School last week that left a student from another school dead may have been a case of self-defense, and homicide charges will not be filed, officials said.Previous coverage in the video player aboveDe’Jon Sledge, 16, has been identified by family as the teen killed, who went to a different school. The Sacramento Police Department said on Tuesday that it took into custody another 16-year-old on firearms-related charges related to the shooting. When asked if homicide charges would be filed against the suspected shooter, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said there was “insufficient evidence to file homicide-related charges.”In a statement to KCRA 3, the DA’s office said the teen killed and an accomplice were not students at Natomas High School.”The deceased came onto campus with a ski mask and a handgun looking for a specific student. The student that was being searched for was found by the deceased and the accomplice,” the district attorney’s office said. “During a violent attempted robbery of the targeted student, the deceased was shot by the student who was also armed.”KCRA 3 asked the district attorney’s office if the person taken into custody was the accomplice or the targeted student, if anyone else would face charges and if only two guns were involved. The DA’s office responded by saying it would not release further details.”Our youth should not feel compelled to carry guns to school for protection,” the DA’s office said. “After a full review of the facts, evidence, the applicable law, specifically as it relates to self-defense, we determined there was insufficient evidence to file homicide-related charges. Our professional and ethical obligation requires us to decline charges when the evidence cannot establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. For that reason, we declined to file charges.”We tried clarifying whether anyone would face charges related to this shooting, and the DA’s office cited juvenile confidentiality. Because of juvenile confidentiality, the DA said it can only publicly comment on juvenile cases related to homicides.If a juvenile is facing other charges, the DA would not be able to disclose that information. Sacramento police earlier told KCRA 3 that it took a juvenile into custody on firearms-related charges.KCRA 3 reached out to the Sacramento Police Department if anyone is still in custody in connection with the shooting. As of 2:40 p.m., we have not heard back a response.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The shooting at Natomas High School last week that left a student from another school dead may have been a case of self-defense, and homicide charges will not be filed, officials said.
Previous coverage in the video player above
De’Jon Sledge, 16, has been identified by family as the teen killed, who went to a different school. The Sacramento Police Department said on Tuesday that it took into custody another 16-year-old on firearms-related charges related to the shooting.
When asked if homicide charges would be filed against the suspected shooter, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said there was “insufficient evidence to file homicide-related charges.”
In a statement to KCRA 3, the DA’s office said the teen killed and an accomplice were not students at Natomas High School.
“The deceased came onto campus with a ski mask and a handgun looking for a specific student. The student that was being searched for was found by the deceased and the accomplice,” the district attorney’s office said. “During a violent attempted robbery of the targeted student, the deceased was shot by the student who was also armed.”
KCRA 3 asked the district attorney’s office if the person taken into custody was the accomplice or the targeted student, if anyone else would face charges and if only two guns were involved. The DA’s office responded by saying it would not release further details.
“Our youth should not feel compelled to carry guns to school for protection,” the DA’s office said. “After a full review of the facts, evidence, the applicable law, specifically as it relates to self-defense, we determined there was insufficient evidence to file homicide-related charges. Our professional and ethical obligation requires us to decline charges when the evidence cannot establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. For that reason, we declined to file charges.”
We tried clarifying whether anyone would face charges related to this shooting, and the DA’s office cited juvenile confidentiality. Because of juvenile confidentiality, the DA said it can only publicly comment on juvenile cases related to homicides.
If a juvenile is facing other charges, the DA would not be able to disclose that information. Sacramento police earlier told KCRA 3 that it took a juvenile into custody on firearms-related charges.
KCRA 3 reached out to the Sacramento Police Department if anyone is still in custody in connection with the shooting. As of 2:40 p.m., we have not heard back a response.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel