A verified gang investigator and officer who was with the Sacramento Police Department at the time of the city’s deadliest shooting is resuming his testimony Tuesday.Zach Eaton, who has served as a gang expert on several past instances, has been testifying as to why he believes the surviving defendants, as well as the slain gunmen, are believed to have had gang motivation in the April 3, 2022, confrontation along downtown’s K Street corridor. That argument is pivotal for prosecutors, who are trying to convince jurors that a standoff amongst rival gangs in what is considered “neutral territory” led to the shootout that killed six people and injured 12 more.Defense attorneys, however, argue that friends were spending time together until one conversation spiraled into gunfire. One of the attorneys also specifically named Sergio Harris, one of the gunmen killed, as the “tough guy” who instigated that confrontation.Facing murder and weapons charges are surviving defendants Mtula Payton and Dandrae Martin.K Street trial updates todayFind live updates below as they occurUpdates from June 16 and afterwardDuring Tuesday’s testimony, Eaton continued commenting on social media posts, this time from Joshua Hoye-Luchessi. He is one of three gunmen killed the night of the shooting.Prosecutors have primarily been showing social media posts where Hoye-Luchessi has shown disdain for what are considered “Cut Crips,” people who are considered nontraditional by primarily representing another group and not their neighborhood.In earlier testimony, Eaton has referred to Payton as being a Garden Blocc Crip but also being part of G-Mobb, which includes Bloods as part of its subgroups. The relevance here is that Eaton said Hoye-Luchessi is a traditional Crip who does not associate with groups such as G-Mobb.Updates from May 12 to June 15Previous trial updatesEaton took the stand on Monday.He spoke of his knowledge of gang culture, referencing groups specific to the Sacramento area and the signs that indicate they represent that group.Much of his testimony throughout the morning revolved around social media posts and messages from three men: DeVazia Turner, Sergio Harris and Mtula Payton.Turner and Harris were two of the three gunmen killed the night of the shooting, and Payton was one of the three men taken into custody.Eaton said that Turner’s social media had many references to the G-Mobb gang.Prosecutors showed several different photos and videos that indicate Turner’s involvement with a gang. One such reference was to the No. 30, which references G-Mobb’s “propensity” for carrying 30-round magazines.Harris’ social media accounts had multiple references to freeing his fellow gang members and that he would rather die or go to jail than risk losing his gang status by snitching. Several photos of Harris’ tattoos were also presented, with Eaton explaining that Harris had the names of many rival gangs tattooed on his legs, X’d out to emphasize opposition.Photos of Payton were shown as well, with tattoos showing gang allegiance. Eaton spoke of photos Payton had on his social media of him holding a gas nozzle, which he said is another indication of gang affiliation for the “Guttah Gass” group.Also referenced was the “where you from?” question, which attorneys have been battling each other over the relevancy of the question. Prosecutors argue that it was a gang-inspired question that occurred moments before the shootout.The defense argues that tensions cooled after a reluctant witness’ answer to that question until one of the other slain gunmen approached and escalated the scene.Eaton, referencing his knowledge of Sacramento gangs, said he fully believes the “where you from?” question was asked under the context of one rival gang approaching another, also noting that Smiley Martin—he was arrested in connection but died in custody—and slain gunman Joshua Hoye-Luchessi had guns on them at the time.Eaton also referenced Turner’s association with surviving defendant Mtula Payton and his belief that Turner engaged in goading or challenging a rival gang in what is considered a neutral territory—downtown Sacramento—as one of multiple reasons as why he believes Turner was an active gang member.Updates from the beginning of the trialThe 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 investigator and officer who was with the Sacramento Police Department at the time of the city’s deadliest shooting is resuming his testimony Tuesday.
Zach Eaton, who has served as a gang expert on several past instances, has been testifying as to why he believes the surviving defendants, as well as the slain gunmen, are believed to have had gang motivation in the April 3, 2022, confrontation along downtown’s K Street corridor.
That argument is pivotal for prosecutors, who are trying to convince jurors that a standoff amongst rival gangs in what is considered “neutral territory” led to the shootout that killed six people and injured 12 more.
Defense attorneys, however, argue that friends were spending time together until one conversation spiraled into gunfire. One of the attorneys also specifically named Sergio Harris, one of the gunmen killed, as the “tough guy” who instigated that confrontation.
Facing murder and weapons charges are surviving defendants Mtula Payton and Dandrae Martin.
K Street trial updates today
Find live updates below as they occur
Updates from June 16 and afterward
During Tuesday’s testimony, Eaton continued commenting on social media posts, this time from Joshua Hoye-Luchessi. He is one of three gunmen killed the night of the shooting.
Prosecutors have primarily been showing social media posts where Hoye-Luchessi has shown disdain for what are considered “Cut Crips,” people who are considered nontraditional by primarily representing another group and not their neighborhood.
In earlier testimony, Eaton has referred to Payton as being a Garden Blocc Crip but also being part of G-Mobb, which includes Bloods as part of its subgroups. The relevance here is that Eaton said Hoye-Luchessi is a traditional Crip who does not associate with groups such as G-Mobb.
Updates from May 12 to June 15
Previous trial updates
Eaton took the stand on Monday.
He spoke of his knowledge of gang culture, referencing groups specific to the Sacramento area and the signs that indicate they represent that group.
Much of his testimony throughout the morning revolved around social media posts and messages from three men: DeVazia Turner, Sergio Harris and Mtula Payton.
Turner and Harris were two of the three gunmen killed the night of the shooting, and Payton was one of the three men taken into custody.
Eaton said that Turner’s social media had many references to the G-Mobb gang.
Prosecutors showed several different photos and videos that indicate Turner’s involvement with a gang. One such reference was to the No. 30, which references G-Mobb’s “propensity” for carrying 30-round magazines.
Harris’ social media accounts had multiple references to freeing his fellow gang members and that he would rather die or go to jail than risk losing his gang status by snitching. Several photos of Harris’ tattoos were also presented, with Eaton explaining that Harris had the names of many rival gangs tattooed on his legs, X’d out to emphasize opposition.
Photos of Payton were shown as well, with tattoos showing gang allegiance. Eaton spoke of photos Payton had on his social media of him holding a gas nozzle, which he said is another indication of gang affiliation for the “Guttah Gass” group.
Also referenced was the “where you from?” question, which attorneys have been battling each other over the relevancy of the question. Prosecutors argue that it was a gang-inspired question that occurred moments before the shootout.
The defense argues that tensions cooled after a reluctant witness’ answer to that question until one of the other slain gunmen approached and escalated the scene.
Eaton, referencing his knowledge of Sacramento gangs, said he fully believes the “where you from?” question was asked under the context of one rival gang approaching another, also noting that Smiley Martin—he was arrested in connection but died in custody—and slain gunman Joshua Hoye-Luchessi had guns on them at the time.
Eaton also referenced Turner’s association with surviving defendant Mtula Payton and his belief that Turner engaged in goading or challenging a rival gang in what is considered a neutral territory—downtown Sacramento—as one of multiple reasons as why he believes Turner was an active gang member.
Updates from the beginning of the trial
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