The father of a 16-year-old who was fatally stabbed by a Sacramento Regional Transit employee during a fight in June is suing the city of Sacramento and SacRT.According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, at the time of the incident, Michael Ray Berry, Jr. and a girl were told by the RT employee to stop vaping on the train. The pair and the security guard got off the train, officials said, and a physical fight started between the three people. “Something needs to happen,” said the teen’s father, Michael Berry, Sr. “I still know nothing. I don’t know why it happened. I just know that my son is dead and I’ve got so many questions. No answers.”The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday it would not file criminal charges against the SacRT employee, citing insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction under the ‘guilt beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard. “Furthermore, the individual has a valid self-defense claim, as the decedent ran toward him, creating a reasonable fear of imminent bodily harm. Accordingly, the office declined to file charges,” the district attorney’s office shared in a statement.Michael Berry Sr. shared his frustration over the decision, saying that after spending several years in the hospital, he was eager to welcome his teenage son back into his home this summer. He shared that his son was well-liked among his neighbors and wanted to pursue a career involving computers.The negligence and wrongful death suit claims that the city and SacRT are responsible for ensuring a safe environment on the transit system. The legal team representing Berry’s father shared a statement on the matter Tuesday afternoon.”We represent a grieving father who simply wants accountability for this tragedy. A 16-year-old is dead, and SacRT is claiming their employee acted in self-defense, but the City and SacRT have yet to provide any of the information or evidence to which we are legally entitled. We filed this lawsuit in an effort to obtain that information, get our client the answers he deserves, and secure justice for a young life taken too soon,” the statement read.A SacRT spokesperson previously stated that employees are not authorized to carry knives. KCRA 3 reached out for comment regarding the lawsuit on Tuesday and to ask if any changes had been made following the incident, but was told by a spokesperson they could not comment due to the ongoing litigation.The fight occurred in the 10100 block of Mills Station Road near Folsom Boulevard and Mather Field Road. Berry was taken to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Transit ambassadors are non-sworn and trained in de-escalation and customer service.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
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. —
The father of a 16-year-old who was fatally stabbed by a Sacramento Regional Transit employee during a fight in June is suing the city of Sacramento and SacRT.
According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, at the time of the incident, Michael Ray Berry, Jr. and a girl were told by the RT employee to stop vaping on the train. The pair and the security guard got off the train, officials said, and a physical fight started between the three people.
“Something needs to happen,” said the teen’s father, Michael Berry, Sr. “I still know nothing. I don’t know why it happened. I just know that my son is dead and I’ve got so many questions. No answers.”
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday it would not file criminal charges against the SacRT employee, citing insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction under the ‘guilt beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard.
“Furthermore, the individual has a valid self-defense claim, as the decedent ran toward him, creating a reasonable fear of imminent bodily harm. Accordingly, the office declined to file charges,” the district attorney’s office shared in a statement.
Michael Berry Sr. shared his frustration over the decision, saying that after spending several years in the hospital, he was eager to welcome his teenage son back into his home this summer. He shared that his son was well-liked among his neighbors and wanted to pursue a career involving computers.
The negligence and wrongful death suit claims that the city and SacRT are responsible for ensuring a safe environment on the transit system. The legal team representing Berry’s father shared a statement on the matter Tuesday afternoon.
“We represent a grieving father who simply wants accountability for this tragedy. A 16-year-old is dead, and SacRT is claiming their employee acted in self-defense, but the City and SacRT have yet to provide any of the information or evidence to which we are legally entitled. We filed this lawsuit in an effort to obtain that information, get our client the answers he deserves, and secure justice for a young life taken too soon,” the statement read.
A SacRT spokesperson previously stated that employees are not authorized to carry knives.
KCRA 3 reached out for comment regarding the lawsuit on Tuesday and to ask if any changes had been made following the incident, but was told by a spokesperson they could not comment due to the ongoing litigation.
The fight occurred in the 10100 block of Mills Station Road near Folsom Boulevard and Mather Field Road.
Berry was taken to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Transit ambassadors are non-sworn and trained in de-escalation and customer service.
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