The violent deaths this week of two men in his homeless camp haven't chased Steve Emerick from the dry field off 47th Avenue – but they haven't left him feeling much comfort.
Until more is known about the homicides – discovered within 24 hours of each other – he's putting up his guard.
"It makes me look over my shoulder a little bit," said Emerick, 49, who has lived in the field across from the Campbell's Soup factory for a little more than a year. "It makes me a little more aware of things."
On Friday, Sacramento police continued their investigation into the deaths of two homeless men. The first man, age 38, was found shot to death about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon; the second, age 39, was found dead about 4:30 a.m. the next day. The second victim suffered stab wounds or blunt force trauma, police said.
The Sacramento County Coroner's Office has not released the victims' names, pending notification of family.
Both bodies were found in a well- established homeless camp just south of 47th Avenue and east of the light-rail tracks.
Earlier this week, police said they were investigating a possible link between the killings. They revealed no more information Friday, including whether they suspect other homeless people could be at risk.
Any reverberations from the deaths had not made much impact on the homeless population at the city's north end, where the Loaves & Fishes shelter provides the largest array of homeless services in Sacramento.
"People have heard of the killings and it to some degree has increased their fear," said Joan Burke, director of advocacy at Loaves & Fishes. "But since they do not know who it was … there hasn't been a dramatic response to it."
The effect is more dramatic inside the 47th Avenue homeless camp, a field yellow with dry grass and dotted with shelters in various states of repair.
On Thursday, news of the second killing and subsequent saturation by police cleared the camp of residents. By Friday, some had migrated back.
Emerick said he barely knew the first victim – who he heard had been killed because somebody was in his debt – but was friendly with the second.
"He was a real nice guy, an exceptionally nice guy," Emerick said. "It really sucks. I couldn't believe it when I heard it."
Catherine Riley rode through the field on her bike searching for her purse, which she said she dropped in a panic when she discovered the first victim's body Wednesday afternoon.
"I thought it was a joke," she said. "I had to get closer."
When she saw blood coming from the man's motionless head, Riley, 45, said she dropped her belongings and biked to a nearby business.
She screamed for the employees to call 911. Riley said she stuck around for 2 1/2 hours as police combed the scene.
The second killing – which claimed the life of a man who had promised her a cart for her bike – shook her.
Since becoming homeless in May, Riley said she has bounced between homeless enclaves.
She planned to seek shelter at a local church, she said, if only because it seemed the safest option in a scary situation.
"I'm single," Riley said. "Nobody's got my back."
Call The Bee's Kim Minugh, (916) 321-1038.
