Second victim dies after Arden Fair shooting; Sacramento police searching for mall gunman

A second person has died after being wounded in a shooting inside Arden Fair during the height of Black Friday shopping in what was described as a targeted and isolated attack.

UPDATE: Family identifies teen brothers as shooting victims, calls for justice

The victim, a 17-year-old male, was pronounced dead at a hospital several hours later, the Sacramento Police Department said Saturday morning. The other victim, identified by police as a 19-year-old male, was pronounced dead at the mall by Sacramento Fire Department personnel.

On Friday night, shoppers and workers quickly evacuated the sprawling shopping hub following the shooting at 6:11 p.m., which took place near the mall’s southwest entrance, according to police. That entrance is between the Forever 21 store and the former Sleep Number location, and below the food court.

In announcing the teen’s death, Sacramento Police Department said a suspect, described as a male in his 20s, remained at large.

“We will be doing everything that we can to identify the suspect or suspects who are involved in this incident and make an arrest in this,” police spokesman Officer Karl Chan said during a 9 p.m. news conference. He encouraged anyone with information to call authorities.

‘Everyone just started running’

The shooting sent shoppers running from the mall. Police advised others shoppers to leave the property and for nearby motorists to avoid the area. Mall employees said they heard eight to 12 shots.

Antwon Martinez, who works inside the mall, said he and his co-workers heard two rounds fired before another burst of gunfire exploded 10 seconds later.

“Heard a couple of shots go off, didn’t really think anything of it,” he said. “And more and more kept going off, so everyone started running toward our back room. ... Everyone just started running.”

He said customers and workers evacuated through the corridors and stairways in the back of the mall.

The coronavirus pandemic kept crowds thin at Arden Fair on Black Friday, though a few die-hard shoppers were there Friday morning looking for the latest Christmas must-haves, such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox’s newest generation of consoles.

Nathan Spradlin, a spokesman for Arden Fair’s operator, said the mall closed ahead of its 10 p.m. schedule on the busiest shopping day of the year, but reopened at 10 a.m.

“This is an active investigation and Arden Fair continues to work closely with all law enforcement agencies involved,” Spradlin said. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic event that occurred Friday evening and our prayers and condolences are with the families of the victims.”

The mall is monitored via security video cameras by on-site staff. Those security personnel are cooperating with police, Spradlin said.

‘This is an isolated shooting’

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said he is awaiting information about the shooting, and said this is an example of why the city is increasing its efforts to combat gun violence. The City Council last week committed $3 million to nonprofit groups to work with teenagers who are at risk for being involved in gun violence.

“We are awaiting more details on this tragic incident,” he said in a text to The Bee. “We are deeply concerned by the increase in gun violence in Sacramento and other cities since the onset of COVID-19, and have supported increasing our city’s efforts to reach young people who are at risk. A gun is never the answer. “

Community activist Berry Accius, who was at the mall talking with victim family members, called the shooting “idiotic. There is no way you are going to get away with this.”

“This is an isolated shooting ... whoever they wanted to target, it seems like they got one and we have another one fighting for their life,” he said.

Police said they are still investigating the motive for the shooting.

Accius echoed Steinberg’s comments, saying the mall should be safe ground where young people can come to be relaxed and not worry about violence. He said he believes the coronavirus pandemic has fomented more stress among young people, leading to more recent violence.

The city had gone through a period with few homicides, then, “the pandemic hit, and everything went to hell,” Accius said. “The pandemic has created such distress for so many people to where they are just lopsiding. ... It gives a lot more opportunity for things like this to happen.”

Accius said he feared retaliation. “We are just trying to not have this spill into something more.”

On Saturday afternoon, Steinberg issued another statement regarding the shooting, connecting the incident to gang activity.

“This wanton shooting of young people by other young people also demands a strong proactive law enforcement response,” Steinberg said. “I support our Police Department and its officers in doing whatever is legally necessary to take the guns out of the hands of teenagers. Period. I will support any effort to strengthen our gang enforcement units and hold shooters responsible for their actions.”

Chan, the agency’s spokesman, said that the gunman’s motive was still under investigation.

The Bee’s Molly Sullivan and Paul Kitagaki Jr. contributed to this story.