Sacramento, California – A 29-year-old man connected to a tragic mass shooting that claimed the lives of six individuals in Sacramento, California, was discovered deceased in his jail cell over the weekend. The man, identified as Smiley Martin, was awaiting trial on three felony charges linked to the April 3, 2022, shooting incident that shook the community.
According to his attorney, Norman Dawson, Martin passed away early Saturday morning while defending his innocence in the preliminary hearing process. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of a 29-year-old inmate at the Sacramento County Main Jail, with the coroner’s office set to determine the cause of death and release the man’s identity once next of kin are notified.
Martin was facing charges of murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession and transport of a machine gun in connection to the tragic shooting that took place in a downtown entertainment area near the state Capitol building. The incident saw more than 100 shots fired, resulting in the fatal shooting of three women and three men, with 12 others sustaining injuries.
The alleged shooter, Martin, was apprehended while receiving medical treatment for gunshot wounds sustained during the incident. Alongside Martin, his brother, Dandrae Martin, also faced charges of assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, while a third man, Mtula Payton, was also charged in connection to the shooting.
The Sacramento community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting, as law enforcement authorities work to bring justice to the victims and their families. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with authorities striving to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the events leading up to the tragic loss of life.