The district is seeking to bring officers back as officials question how teens got guns onto campus and whether current systems are holding them accountable.
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Sacramento County prosecutors say a deadly shooting at Natomas High School was an act of self-defense, but officials say the case also underscores broader concerns about teenagers bringing loaded guns onto campus and whether the response goes far enough.
The shooting happened Friday just after dismissal, when two 16-year-olds, who were not students of Natomas High, went onto campus looking for another 16-year-old boy, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho said.
“What we had was a 16-year-old individual that was not a student at that school, along with his accomplice go on to campus,” Ho said. “The individual had a ski mask on and was purposely targeting the student who eventually fired the fatal shot. They were going on campus to find that student, to rob that student. And the person that died, he was carrying a loaded .45 caliber handgun, approached the student who fired the fatal shot. And our analysis, by looking at the video, talking to witnesses, we determined that the individual, the 16-year-old who fired the fatal shot, was doing so in self defense.”
The teen who was killed was identified by family as 16-year-old De’Jon Sledge.
Ho said prosecutors declined to file homicide charges because they could not meet the legal standard required.
“I have a fundamental ethical obligation to only charge a case when I can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt,” Ho said. “And what I can tell you here is that based on the surveillance video, based upon the eyewitness testimony, based upon the forensic evidence, this was a case in terms of the fatal shooting that was self defense.”
But he said that does not end the case.
“We’re still charging the 16-year-old who fired the fatal shot with gun possession, because you cannot be possessing a gun and bring it onto campus, and so we needed to make sure that we charge them,” Ho said. “They’re facing the felony gun possession in juvenile court, but they would not be facing murder charges because it’s a case of self defense.”
He said an third teen, who was the suspected accomplice, is also is being charged.
“We’re also charging the assessor, the aider and abettor, the other individual that was with the decedent in committing the attempted robbery,” Ho said.
Ho said the case is also about how two teenagers got loaded handguns onto a school campus.
“How do we stop guns from coming onto campus? I’m a parent of three,” Ho said. “It’s terrifying to think for a moment, the two teenagers are bringing loaded handguns onto campus.”
He said accountability still applies even in a self-defense case.
“Just because you have the right to self defense, as a 16-year-old, you don’t have a right to carry a concealed handgun or to bring it onto campus on either side, and so there’s a measure of accountability there,” Ho said. “How that plays out, that’s something that will be handled in the juvenile court.”
He also said the case raises questions that reach beyond the courthouse.
“Where did these 16-year-olds get those guns? I mean, that’s the first question there,” Ho said. “Where did they get these loaded handguns? It starts at home. It starts in the community. It starts in the schools. It starts in all of those places.”
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper added the case reflects a larger problem.
“We take guns every day from people. Our gang unit had record seizures. We have patrol officers, these kids carry guns around. It’s much more violent,” Cooper said. “But don’t be naive — there are more juveniles walking around with guns at school.”
He also questioned whether juvenile consequences are enough.
“These kids know there are no repercussions,” Cooper said. “If you get caught with a gun, you’re not going to get locked up. You get released right away and do not serve any time. And that’s the dilemma. They know there’s no accountability,” he added. Nothing will happen to you.”
The shooting has also renewed debate over school safety at Natomas Unified School District.
On Wednesday, police and school safety officers were visible on campus.
Superintendent Robyn Castillo previously told ABC10 that safety staff were present at the time of the shooting.
“Yes, our safety staff is always present,” Castillo said.
However, the district lost school resource officers last year due to staffing issues, so Castillo said they shifted to internal safety staff. A day after the shooting Castillo said it is unclear whether having officers on campus would have changed the outcome.
“You know, I think it’s just hard to tell,” Castillo said. “I think what we do know is that this was an isolated incident, that it was very targeted to a specific student. So I really don’t know if that would have made a difference or not.”
She said responsibility does not fall on one group alone.
“I think what’s really important to know is that it’s the responsibility of all of us working together,” Castillo said. “We need parents, members of the community just to be very vigilant and aware of what students are doing, what’s going on in their lives, what they have access to, and it really has to be the job of everybody working together.”
District officials have now asked the city to reinstate school resource officers.
“We have submitted a formal request to the City Manager to reinstate our School Resource Officer (SRO) contract,” the district said in a statement.
It remains unclear whether that request will be approved as Sacramento faces a $66 million budget deficit.
That uncertainty comes as the Sacramento Police Department weighs how to respond amid ongoing staffing shortages.
“The Sacramento Police Department continues to evaluate best ways to serve our community in light of recent staffing shortages,” the department said in a statement. “We remain committed to examining changes made throughout the department, while maintaining strong partnerships with our local school districts. Our top priority is the safety of everyone in the city, and we will continue to respond when our community needs us.”
The district also held a virtual parent forum to address concerns and says it is continuing to review safety protocols.
Current measures include perimeter fencing, limited points of entry, security camera systems, dedicated safety staff, an anonymous tip line and required check-in procedures for visitors.
“We want to reassure our families, staff and community that safety is our top priority and we are committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff,” the district said.
Meanwhile, both surviving teens are expected to face proceedings in juvenile court.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | Father and daughter reflect on the Natomas High School shooting that killed local teen
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