Sacramento, California – The suspected gunman involved in a deadly mass shooting in Sacramento has passed away while in custody, reports say. The inmate was identified as Smiley Martin, who died at the Sacramento County Main Jail after being in custody since April 20, 2022. Martin, who was facing charges of murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a machine gun, was one of the 12 individuals injured in the shooting that claimed six lives on April 3, 2022.
Authorities discovered Martin’s death during a routine cell check in the 5-East 300 Pod. Despite efforts to revive him, Martin did not survive. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
Martin’s public defender, Norman Dawson, expressed deep sadness at the unexpected passing of his client. Dawson highlighted Martin’s ongoing fight to prove his innocence during the preliminary hearing process. The news of Martin’s death comes in the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting that rocked the Sacramento community on April 3, 2022.
In addition to Martin, his younger brother, Dandrae Martin, was also charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection to the same shooting incident. Another individual involved in the shooting, Mtula Payton, was apprehended weeks later in Las Vegas.
The Sacramento Sheriff’s Office did not disclose the cause of Martin’s death, leaving many questions unanswered in the wake of this tragic event. The impact of the mass shooting continues to reverberate through the community, as families and loved ones mourn the loss of those who perished in the senseless violence. The investigation into the shooting and the circumstances surrounding Martin’s death are ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the events that led to this tragic outcome.