Sacramento Police Officers Shoot Man Brandishing a Fake Gun

 Sacramento, California — May 13, 2025

On the morning of Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at around 9:03 a.m., the Sacramento Police Department’s Communications Center received an urgent 911 call reporting a man displaying dangerous behavior in the area of North 16th Street and North B Street. According to the caller, the individual was seen walking in the middle of the street, waving what appeared to be a handgun and pointing it at passersby in a threatening manner.

Just five minutes later, at approximately 9:08 a.m., the same witness called 911 again to update dispatchers. This time, the suspect had reportedly moved further north, walking along the 200 block of North 16th Street. The continued movement of the armed man heightened concerns for public safety, and officers were quickly dispatched to intercept him before the situation escalated further.

At around 9:13 a.m., the first Sacramento Police officer arrived at the location and spotted a man matching the suspect’s description. Two additional officers arrived on scene moments later. As the officers confronted the individual, they observed what they believed to be a firearm visibly protruding from the man’s pocket.

The officers immediately began issuing verbal commands, instructing the suspect to keep his hands away from the weapon and step onto the sidewalk. Despite repeated efforts to de-escalate the situation, the suspect did not follow the officers’ instructions. Instead, he began advancing toward them in a confrontational manner while shouting at the officers to shoot him.

As the officers moved backward to maintain distance, they continued urging the suspect to stop advancing and to comply with their commands. The suspect ignored their pleas and eventually reached into his pocket, withdrawing the object that appeared to be a handgun. In response to the perceived threat, the officers discharged their service weapons.

Three officers fired their handguns during the incident, striking the suspect. After confirming the immediate threat had been neutralized, the officers moved in and disarmed the man, removing the weapon from his right hand. They then began administering emergency first aid on the scene while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

The suspect was quickly transported to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for serious injuries. Following medical care, he was placed under arrest and transferred to the Sacramento County Main Jail. He now faces multiple charges, including resisting law enforcement and brandishing what turned out to be a replica firearm.

Upon further investigation, detectives recovered the weapon from the scene. After examining it, authorities confirmed that the item was not a real firearm, but an imitation designed to resemble a real handgun. Despite its inauthentic nature, the weapon appeared convincing enough during the confrontation to prompt a lethal force response.

Officials from the Sacramento Police Department stated that officers acted based on the perceived imminent threat to their lives and the lives of others. The incident is now under review by the department’s internal affairs unit and an independent oversight committee, as is standard procedure following any officer-involved shooting.

As of now, the suspect’s name has not been publicly released. No officers or civilians were injured during the event. The department emphasized its commitment to transparency and confirmed that body-worn camera footage from the officers involved will be made available to the public as part of the ongoing investigation