\u201cMy son\u2019s life did not deserve to be taken from us,\u201d the statement, written by Sledge\u2019s mother, read.<\/p>\n
In the statement, Sledge\u2019s mother asked the community to \u201crefrain from spreading false narratives\u201d about him and said he was not affiliated with any gang.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son was caring. He was passionate. He was determined to walk the right path,\u201d the statement read. \u201cDid he make mistakes? Of course, just like any other teenager in this world. But anyone who truly knew my son knew what kind of person he really was.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Sacramento](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SAC_2010_PK_20260410_SHOOTING.JPG\" "\\"SAC_2010_PK_20260410_SHOOTING.JPG\\"")
Sacramento police officers ride a BearCat armored vehicle as they search for a suspect at the Natomas Village apartments after a shooting at Natomas High School that left one student dead in Sacramento on Friday, April 10, 2026. PAUL KITAGAKI JR. pkitagaki@sacbee.com <\/p>\n
Officers responded shortly after 3:30 p.m. Friday to a reported shooting in the 3200 block of Truxel Road<\/a>, near the Natomas High School and Discovery High School campuses, about 10 minutes after classes had been dismissed.<\/p>\n Police spokesperson Officer Anthony Gamble said Friday that the teen victim was not an active student at either school but attended a \u201cnearby school\u201d and was on campus in an open area at the time of the shooting.<\/p>\n Natomas High School had an increased presence of safety teams and the Sacramento Police Department on campus Monday, as well as mental health professionals, chaplains and community partners, according to a statement from the district\u2019s spokesperson.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from across the region,\u201d the district\u2019s statement read. \u201cNatomas is a strong and connected community, and together, we will navigate this difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n Officer Allison Smith, a spokesperson for the Sacramento Police Department, said an officer has been temporarily assigned to the school during school hours \u201cto provide an added measure of reassurance and visibility,\u201d and law enforcement has increased its presence in the area this week during drop-off and pick-up times for the school.<\/p>\n Gamble said Friday that the suspect is a Natomas High student and that while the motive remained under investigation, authorities believed the victim was intentionally targeted.<\/p>\n On Friday, officers searched a nearby apartment complex, Natomas Village Apartments, located across the street from the school at 3200 Truxel Road. Dozens of people gathered outside the complex, along the campus lawn and into the street, including a trio of women crying out for the person sought by police to surrender.<\/p>\n \u201cPut your hands up. Your mama\u2019s right here. Come on out. Put your hands up,\u201d one of the women pleaded as another woman sobbed beside her. \u201cThey\u2019ve got guns everywhere. Come out, man.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith said Monday that there was no update to share about the suspect.<\/p>\n This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 4:25 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n![\"Family](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SAC_1346_PK_20260410_SHOOTING.JPG\" "\\"SAC_1346_PK_20260410_SHOOTING.JPG\\"")
Family members of the shooting suspect call for him as law enforcement officers demand his surrender after a shooting at Natomas High School that left one student dead on Friday, April 10, 2026. Authorities searched for the suspect at the Natomas Village apartments near the campus. PAUL KITAGAKI JR. pkitagaki@sacbee.com <\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DADEY-CAMRYN.jpg\")