A verified gang expert who was a lieutenant with the Sacramento Police Department at the time of the city’s deadliest shooting will continue to face questioning from defense attorneys representing the surviving defendants.Previous coverage in the video player aboveZach Eaton, when answering questions from prosecutors, spoke of gang politics and culture and what he believes may have led to the April 3, 2022, shootout that left six people dead and 12 more injured. He also shared his findings of social media accounts tied to the shooting.Eaton, who has spent years as a gang investigator, explained the concept of “territories,” scouting, goading, disrespect and the “multitude of consequences” if gangs back down from another group’s challenge.In describing downtown Sacramento, he said that because it is a “neutral territory, rival gang members may encounter one another, increasing the need for them to stay armed in those areas to avoid being disrespected in person and for what they deem to be their own public safety.Another concept that has been discussed is nontraditional gang members who may represent another group and not necessarily their neighborhood. Eaton said traditional Crips and Bloods may not tolerate those who may be part of subset gangs that ally with what would normally be considered an opposing group.Eaton describes one of the surviving defendants, Mtula Payton, as a “Cut Crip,” because he is part of the Garden Blocc Crips, but he is also part of “Guttah Gas,” a subset of G-Mobb. Eaton explains that G-Mobb and Garden Blocc are historic enemies.The lengthy explanation on gang culture is part of a larger argument prosecutors are presenting to jurors, believing that Payton and Dandrae Martin should be convicted of murder and weapons charges for being part of a gang confrontation that resulted in three innocent women’s deaths.Defense attorneys, however, seek to dismantle the gang element of the shootout. Some of their arguments include pointing out conflicting testimony from reluctant witnesses, a statement that none of Payton’s bullets were found on the deceased and whether a pivotal “where you from?” question actually led to a violent confrontation.One of the defense attorneys also named slain gunman Sergio Harris as the “tough guy” who instigated everything and ruined a night of friends spending time together.Eaton is the last witness prosecutors have in their lineup. Once the prosecution rests its case, the defense has a chance to either call witnesses of their own or rest their case as well, in which closing arguments will follow.It is unknown if closing arguments will happen this week, but the judge instructed jurors to be available next week for deliberations.K Street trial updates todayFind live updates below as they occurUpdates from June 16 and afterwardPrevious trial updatesUpdates from June 16 and afterwardThe victims in the K Street shootingThe three victims are 21-year-old Johntaya “JoJo” Alexander, 57-year-old Melinda Davis, and 21-year-old Yamile Martinez-Andrade.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
A verified gang expert who was a lieutenant with the Sacramento Police Department at the time of the city’s deadliest shooting will continue to face questioning from defense attorneys representing the surviving defendants.
Previous coverage in the video player above
Zach Eaton, when answering questions from prosecutors, spoke of gang politics and culture and what he believes may have led to the April 3, 2022, shootout that left six people dead and 12 more injured. He also shared his findings of social media accounts tied to the shooting.
Eaton, who has spent years as a gang investigator, explained the concept of “territories,” scouting, goading, disrespect and the “multitude of consequences” if gangs back down from another group’s challenge.
In describing downtown Sacramento, he said that because it is a “neutral territory, rival gang members may encounter one another, increasing the need for them to stay armed in those areas to avoid being disrespected in person and for what they deem to be their own public safety.
Another concept that has been discussed is nontraditional gang members who may represent another group and not necessarily their neighborhood. Eaton said traditional Crips and Bloods may not tolerate those who may be part of subset gangs that ally with what would normally be considered an opposing group.
Eaton describes one of the surviving defendants, Mtula Payton, as a “Cut Crip,” because he is part of the Garden Blocc Crips, but he is also part of “Guttah Gas,” a subset of G-Mobb. Eaton explains that G-Mobb and Garden Blocc are historic enemies.
The lengthy explanation on gang culture is part of a larger argument prosecutors are presenting to jurors, believing that Payton and Dandrae Martin should be convicted of murder and weapons charges for being part of a gang confrontation that resulted in three innocent women’s deaths.
Defense attorneys, however, seek to dismantle the gang element of the shootout. Some of their arguments include pointing out conflicting testimony from reluctant witnesses, a statement that none of Payton’s bullets were found on the deceased and whether a pivotal “where you from?” question actually led to a violent confrontation.
One of the defense attorneys also named slain gunman Sergio Harris as the “tough guy” who instigated everything and ruined a night of friends spending time together.
Eaton is the last witness prosecutors have in their lineup. Once the prosecution rests its case, the defense has a chance to either call witnesses of their own or rest their case as well, in which closing arguments will follow.
It is unknown if closing arguments will happen this week, but the judge instructed jurors to be available next week for deliberations.
K Street trial updates today
Find live updates below as they occur
Updates from June 16 and afterward
Previous trial updates
Updates from June 16 and afterward
The victims in the K Street shooting
The three victims are 21-year-old Johntaya “JoJo” Alexander, 57-year-old Melinda Davis, and 21-year-old Yamile Martinez-Andrade.
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