Off-duty deputy fired upon in downtown Sacramento; gunshot hits federal courthouse

An off-duty sheriff’s deputy was fired upon Tuesday during an early morning shooting in downtown Sacramento.

The deputy was targeted from a moving vehicle just after 5:50 a.m. near the intersection of Fifth and I streets, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Authorities said the deputy was not injured, but a window was damaged on the ground floor of the Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building.

Fifth, Sixth and I streets were closed for several hours as police continued to investigate. In addition to the courthouse, the area is home to the Sacramento County Main Jail and the Sacramento Valley Station, a hub of rail transit for the area.

All roadways in the area have since reopened, police said shortly after 11 a.m.

The Police Department in a news release Tuesday afternoon said the deputy was not in uniform at the time of the shooting, and that the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.

No description of the suspect or the vehicle involved was immediately available.

This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 7:58 AM.