Photo courtesy of West Sacramento Police Department

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Two separate shooting incidents involving underage victims recently took place less than a week apart at and near Summerfield Park, which has raised concerns for residents in the community.

According to a statement posted by West Sacramento Police Department via social media, the first incident occurred at 1:55 p.m. April 30 after several calls to the police department were made about possible shots fired at Summerfield Park. Summerfield Park is located at 2950 Linden Road.

When officers arrived on scene April 30, they located a 16-year-old victim who was transported to the hospital. The male victim, Adrian Carter from Sacramento, died at the hospital from his injuries, according to the West Sacramento Police Department.

The suspect is 19-year-old Adrek Isacc Miramontes of Yuma, Arizona. He was arrested by detectives at a home in Sacramento County after a search warrant was conducted in the early morning of May 1. Miramontes was taken to Yolo County Jail and charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.  

The same week, on May 3, West Sacramento Police Department officials responded to reports of a shooting on Linden Road and Allan Avenue at 9:50 p.m., less than a mile away from Summerfield Park. When officers arrived, they assisted with the medical aid to another 16-year-old male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim, whose identity is unidentified at this time, was transported to a local hospital where the victim where they remain in critical condition as of May 2. An arrest was made at a Sacramento residence for a juvenile suspect in the early morning of May 3 who was taken to Yolo County Jail.

West Sacramento Police officials shared on May 3 via social media that their investigation into the two incidents, as of press time, indicate that the shooting that happened on May 2 seems to be a retaliation shooting related to the April 30 homicide at Summerfield Park. Officials also stated that the incident on April 30 occurred due to a marijuana drug deal that went wrong, adding that an investigation into circumstances surrounding the situation is still ongoing.

“We understand how unsettling these incidents are for our community. Please know that we share in your concern and are actively working to bring those responsible to justice,” said West Sacramento Police Department via a public post shared on social media. “The safety of West Sacramento remains our highest priority, and we are committed to ensuring our city is a secure and peaceful place for all. We ask for your continued support and partnership as we move forward together.”

In the midst of these incidents, the Washington Unified School District (WUSD) released a statement on May 3 about the recent tragedies and the support it is offering for the schools in the community:

“We recognize that events like these can cause fear and anxiety in our community. Please know that the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority…The WUSD has a strong network of support available to help any student, staff member, or family who may be struggling in the aftermath of these tragedies. When we return to school on Monday, we want to remind our school community that our school leaders are here to support you. If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, please contact your school’s main office, and our team will ensure you receive the help you need.”

The Washington Unified School District also shared in the statement, posted on its Facebook page, about the importance of safe firearm storage and keeping them out of reach of children/unauthorized individuals. Community members voiced their concerns about safety and security of the schools under the post, discussing the ways in which future incidents like this can be prevented such as implementing new backpack policies.  

Laurie Gutierrez, a parent and community member, posted a comment on May 3 in response to the Washington Unified School District stating, “It does give me anxiety to send my son to school for the fact that I'm finding out that kids on your campus are carrying guns and knives. It's kind of scary.”

Gutierrez added, “Maybe it's to the point where backpacks need to be checked…we need to come together as a community and protect our children.” 

On May 3, Justina Ledezma also left a comment expressing their concerns and said, “As a parent with a child heading to high school there isn’t a way to protect them every moment, but I feel a step in the right direction would be to start with implementing clear backpacks. Maybe as a community we can help suggest and support our school district as they too may not have all the answers.” 

The West Sacramento Police Department did not respond to questions from the West Sacramento News Ledger about safety and security concerns following the recent incidents by press time.

Miramontes, the suspect from the fatal shooting on April 30, was set to have a bail review hearing at Yolo County Superior Court on May 9 and has a pre-hearing conference scheduled June 17. Charges against the juvenile suspect from the May 2 incident has yet to be disclosed to the public, as of press time.