Downtown mass shooting one of deadliest in Sacramento history. Here are others

Gun violence has become an all too familiar tragedy in recent years, as the country continues to mourn new victims of mass shootings.

Barely a month ago, Sacramento was reeling from a domestic violence shooting where a father shot and killed five people, including his three daughters and himself. One month later, the capital city faces another devastation.

Early Sunday morning, as people were leaving nightclubs and bars in the 1000 block of K Street, unknown suspects shot and killed six people — three men and three women. Twelve others were injured from shooting, which Police Chief Kathy Lester said ensued after a fight.

As of Tuesday, the reason for the killing spree is still unknown and three people have been arrested in relation to the shooting. So far none have been accused of firing at individuals Sunday, police said. Police are still searching for additional suspects.

The victims include Johntaya Alexander, 21; Melinda Davis, 57; Yamile Martinez-Andrade, 21; Sergio Harris, 38; Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi, 32; and Devazia Turner, 29, according to the Sacramento County coroner.

One of the suspects was among the wounded.

With six people killed, this incident marks one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern Sacramento history, a review of Sacramento Bee archives confirms.

1991 deadly hostage crisis

Another shooting that matches the number killed includes the deaths of three hostages and three captors. In total, six people died in the 1991 hostage crisis at a Good Guys electronic store. Ten others were wounded.

Monday, April 4, is the anniversary of the incident.

That day, 31 years ago, brothers Loi Nguyen, Long Nguyen, Pham Nguyen, and friend Cuong Tran, entered the south Sacramento store, firing gunshots and holding hostage 39 employees, customers and children.

What seemed to begin as an armed robbery unraveled into a city-wide standstill. Local TV news camped outside to broadcast the situation live, while the gunmen issued “bizarre demands” for millions of dollars, more weapons and a helicopter, and a SWAT team prepared to rush in.

The standoff lasted more than eight hours and became known as the largest hostage-rescue operation in United States history. It ended in a deadly siege.

Kris Sohne and John Lee Fritz, Good Guys employees, and Fernando Gutierrez, a customer, died in the shootout. Pham Nguyen, Long Nguyen and Cuong Tran were killed.

2001 24-hour rampage in Sacramento

Sacramento confronted another deadly rampage in 2001 when Joseph Ferguson, a suspended security guard, fatally shot five people, including an ex-girlfriend, and injured two other people. He later shot himself.

On Sept. 10, the 20-year-old shot himself near Folsom Boulevard and Zinfandel Drive, after spending the past 24-hours firing gun shots throughout the Sacramento area, threatening people, stealing a vehicle and abducting individuals.

The killing spree is said to be sparked by Ferguson’s failed relationship and job loss as a security guard for Burns International Security.

Among the dead were Burns employees George Nague Bernardino, Marsha Jackson and an unidentified supervisor, Nina Susu who’s believed to be Ferguson’s ex-girlfriend, and bystander John Derek Glimstad. Before fatally shooting himself, Ferguson wounded a California Highway Patrol officer and a nearby motorist.

According to the SFGate, Ferguson “vowed to top the carnage” that was carried out by Nikolay Soltys, who killed six people, including fatally stabbing his pregnant wife and 3-year-old son in the Sacramento area.

2022 domestic violence shooting

In March, David Mora, a 39-year-old man shot and killed his three daughters, a family friend and himself with an AR-15-style rifle inside The Church in Sacramento, near Arden Fair mall.

Mora, who was subject to a five-year domestic violence restraining order, was meeting his children for a supervised visit. The order required Mora to stay at least 100 yards from the daughters and their mother, except during visits that are overseen by family friends.

He also had a temporary restraining order that barred him from having a firearm or ammunition.

During the visit, he killed daughters Samia, 13; Samantha, who would have turned 11 that week; Samarah, 9; and family friend Nathaniel Kong, 59.

Before the deadly shooting, Mora was arrested a week prior in Merced County under charges of resisting arrest, battery of a police officer and driving under the influence after assaulting a CPH officer.

Shootings in California

Mass shootings and threats of gun violence have been becoming more common — and deadly.

Thirty two years ago in 1989, 5 students, ages 6 to 9, were killed at a Stockton elementary school. Thirty-one others, including a teacher, were injured.

In Northern California, a shooting spree in Tehama County in 2017 left six dead, including the gunman, and eight injured, seven of who were children. A year later, in Thousand Oaks, a city in Ventura County, a former U.S. Marine gunned down and killed 12 patrons at the Borderline Bar and Grill.

In 2021, a shooting at a California light rail yard in San Jose resulted in 10 people dead, including the suspect.

While such tragedy feels familiar, with many more mass shootings across the state and country in the last few decades, it continues to leave a permanent scar in California history.

If you or a loved one was affected by the most recent Sacramento mass shootings, you can get assistance.

This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 5:00 AM.