“We want justice, we wanna know who did it. Because, we loved him. We want everyone to know is that he was loved.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif — A Sacramento family is mourning the loss of a father of two who was shot and killed inside an Arden Arcade liquor store Saturday morning as homicide detectives search for answers about who pulled the trigger and why.
Family members identified the victim as 31-year-old Kenneth Peace. Relatives gathered outside Prestige Liquor after learning devastating news about their loved one.
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Patrice Edwards said she was on her way to work when she spotted her cousin’s car parked in the middle of the crime scene.
“I can’t call his phone,” Edwards said. “I can’t speak to him. I was hoping when I pulled up, he would call and be like ‘hey I’m alright.’ But that’s not what happened.”
Edwards said she returned to the liquor store after they were unable to reach Peace. According to relatives, the father of two had gone to the store that morning but never came home.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the store at about 11:20 a.m. after receiving a report of a possible shooting.
“Regarding a man that was possibly shot inside at the business here behind me at 1050 Howe, our deputies arrived on scene and entered locating a 31-year-old man with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. They immediately attempted any life-saving measures for this individual. As soon as fire responded on scene, he was unfortunately pronounced dead,” Sgt. Edward Igoe of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said.
During the investigation, detectives determined the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle before deputies arrived.
While the Sheriff’s Office had not officially identified the victim at the time, family members said deputies later confirmed the man killed was Peace.
“To the family, he was everything. He was a provider, a comedian, he made everyone smile and laugh, and just feel accepted. The light of our life. The glue to the family, he kept everyone together. He just will be truly missed,” Edwards said.
Edwards said Peace was the father of two daughters, ages 6 and 8, and had moved to the Arden Arcade area a few months ago.
“We want justice, we wanna know who did it. Because, like I said, we loved him. All we want everyone to know is that he was loved. He was needed. He will be missed. His daughters are gonna miss him something terrible,” Edwards said.
As investigators continue searching for the shooter, Peace’s family said they are struggling to process what happened and are desperate for answers.
“Theres not gonna be a day that we’re not thinking about him or wondering ‘why did this happen?’ even after we probably get answers or when this is all over. And everything is said and done, we will still be questioning 20 years from now when we’re all meeting up why it had to be him,” Edwards said.
Peace’s family is urging anyone with information to come forward and help deputies find the shooter, and have started a GoFundMe for anyone interested in supporting them during their loss.
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