Victim in midtown Sacramento assault dies. Suspect now faces homicide charge
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sacramento man faces homicide charge after June 22 assault victim dies.
- Leonardo Valdez Jr. was initially arrested on assault with a deadly weapon charge.
- Police ask witnesses to call department line or Sacramento Crime Stoppers.
A man arrested last month in a Sacramento assault now faces a homicide charge after the victim in the midtown attack died this week at a hospital.
Leonardo Polanco Valdez Jr., 34, of Sacramento was initially arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the midtown incident reported shortly after 2 p.m. June 22 in the 1000 block of 21st Street.
Officers responding to the reported assault involving a weapon arrived at the scene and detained Valdez, the Sacramento Police Department announced Wednesday in a news release.
Police said the officers also found a wounded man who had suffered blunt-force trauma injuries. The wounded man was taken to a hospital and listed in critical condition.
On Tuesday, the Police Department was notified that the assault victim had succumbed to his injuries.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Valdez in connection with June 22 assault.
Prosecutors on June 24 charged Valdez with assault with the deadly weapon and listed James Sewell as the victim in the assault, according to the filed criminal complaint. Valdez is accused of using a baseball bat during the assault.
On Wednesday, Valdez remained in custody at the Sacramento County Jail. He was booked on the homicide charge and is ineligible for bail.
Jail records show Valdez is scheduled to appear for his arraignment on the homicide charge on Monday afternoon in Sacramento Superior Court.
Investigators asked any witnesses with relevant information about this homicide to call the Police Department at 916-808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357.
