Defense attorneys on Wednesday are set to continue questioning a verified gang expert on his perspective of what may have caused Sacramento’s deadliest shooting.Zach Eaton was with the Sacramento Police Department when the April 3, 2022, shootout along downtown’s K Street corridor left six people dead and 12 more injured. Throughout this week, he’s testified on gang culture and his findings on the social media accounts of several people tied to the shooting.Eaton spoke of the disrespect rival gangs commit on social media when they post pictures and videos with guns, show they are in rival “territory,” or disparage another group’s slang or logos.He also mentioned that in places that are considered “neutral territory,” such as the K Street corridor, rival gangs 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.Throughout Eaton’s testimony with prosecutors, he explained the gang affiliations for both the slain gunmen, the surviving defendants and others tied to that night. He went into the gang politics of how certain gangs do not approve of others, and if they affiliate with others who they consider the opposition.This complex layout of gang affiliations comes into play when considering defendant Mtula Payton, who was part of a subset group that affiliated with both Crips and Bloods, Eaton explained. Others present that night on K and 10th streets were part of groups considered traditional in that they only tolerate one or the other.Both Payton and Dandrae Martin are the surviving defendants, facing murder and weapons charges. Dandrae’s brother, Smiley Martin, was also arrested in connection with K Street, but he died in custody in 2024.Prosecutors have relied largely on proving to jurors that gang culture and activity led to a standoff that caused the gunbattle.The defense, since their opening arguments, has tried blaming the spiral into violence on Sergio Harris, one of the three slain gunmen.K Street trial updates todayFind live updates below as they occurUpdates from June 16 and afterwardPrevious trial updatesUpdates 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.The prosecution also presented social media activity from accounts Eaton believes were operated by Smiley Martin. He was arrested in connection with the K Street shooting, but he died while in custody in 2024.Two other accounts were of two people whose initials are SJ and BD.BD testified earlier in the trial under the condition of immunity. She broke into tears during testimony when body-worn camera footage from a Sacramento police officer showed BD screaming hysterically minutes after Hoye-Luchessi was killed.Earlier testimony also indicated that SJ and BD were either in a romantic relationship at the time or had recently ended relations.Eaton stated that social media activity from both SJ and BD led him to believe that both were active gang members the night of the shooting.Later in the day, prosecutors had Eaton confirm the social media accounts of Dandrae Martin and a man whose street name is Key Loom, the leader of the local group Loom Squad. Eaton verified social media posts from Key Loom that showed both Hoye-Luchessi and Smiley Martin.Tattoos presented were another sign of strong gang affiliation, Eaton explained. Photos of the Martin brothers, Hoye-Luchessi and others had references to local gangs or disapproval of other rival gangs.When it came to the topic of respect, Eaton emphasized how acts of disrespect are taken seriously amongst gangs, and he highlighted how some social media posts presented were direct insults toward rival groups.With about 30 minutes left of court time, the defense began cross-examination. The attorney representing Payton asked Eaton if he knew whether Payton had established personal relationships with a number of people who were present the night of the shooting.Eaton said he did not know.The defense attorney also pointed to previous testimony Eaton gave, where he said he observed through surveillance a moment where Smiley Martin gave a one-armed hug to Payton, which he did not reciprocate. He asked Eaton if he had made a personal judgment about Payton’s relationship with Smiley based on that one interaction.The 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
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Defense attorneys on Wednesday are set to continue questioning a verified gang expert on his perspective of what may have caused Sacramento’s deadliest shooting.
Zach Eaton was with the Sacramento Police Department when the April 3, 2022, shootout along downtown’s K Street corridor left six people dead and 12 more injured. Throughout this week, he’s testified on gang culture and his findings on the social media accounts of several people tied to the shooting.
Eaton spoke of the disrespect rival gangs commit on social media when they post pictures and videos with guns, show they are in rival “territory,” or disparage another group’s slang or logos.
He also mentioned that in places that are considered “neutral territory,” such as the K Street corridor, rival gangs 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.
Throughout Eaton’s testimony with prosecutors, he explained the gang affiliations for both the slain gunmen, the surviving defendants and others tied to that night. He went into the gang politics of how certain gangs do not approve of others, and if they affiliate with others who they consider the opposition.
This complex layout of gang affiliations comes into play when considering defendant Mtula Payton, who was part of a subset group that affiliated with both Crips and Bloods, Eaton explained. Others present that night on K and 10th streets were part of groups considered traditional in that they only tolerate one or the other.
Both Payton and Dandrae Martin are the surviving defendants, facing murder and weapons charges. Dandrae’s brother, Smiley Martin, was also arrested in connection with K Street, but he died in custody in 2024.
Prosecutors have relied largely on proving to jurors that gang culture and activity led to a standoff that caused the gunbattle.
The defense, since their opening arguments, has tried blaming the spiral into violence on Sergio Harris, one of the three slain gunmen.
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
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.
The prosecution also presented social media activity from accounts Eaton believes were operated by Smiley Martin. He was arrested in connection with the K Street shooting, but he died while in custody in 2024.
Two other accounts were of two people whose initials are SJ and BD.
BD testified earlier in the trial under the condition of immunity. She broke into tears during testimony when body-worn camera footage from a Sacramento police officer showed BD screaming hysterically minutes after Hoye-Luchessi was killed.
Earlier testimony also indicated that SJ and BD were either in a romantic relationship at the time or had recently ended relations.
Eaton stated that social media activity from both SJ and BD led him to believe that both were active gang members the night of the shooting.
Later in the day, prosecutors had Eaton confirm the social media accounts of Dandrae Martin and a man whose street name is Key Loom, the leader of the local group Loom Squad. Eaton verified social media posts from Key Loom that showed both Hoye-Luchessi and Smiley Martin.
Tattoos presented were another sign of strong gang affiliation, Eaton explained. Photos of the Martin brothers, Hoye-Luchessi and others had references to local gangs or disapproval of other rival gangs.
When it came to the topic of respect, Eaton emphasized how acts of disrespect are taken seriously amongst gangs, and he highlighted how some social media posts presented were direct insults toward rival groups.
With about 30 minutes left of court time, the defense began cross-examination. The attorney representing Payton asked Eaton if he knew whether Payton had established personal relationships with a number of people who were present the night of the shooting.
Eaton said he did not know.
The defense attorney also pointed to previous testimony Eaton gave, where he said he observed through surveillance a moment where Smiley Martin gave a one-armed hug to Payton, which he did not reciprocate. He asked Eaton if he had made a personal judgment about Payton’s relationship with Smiley based on that one interaction.
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