A tragic incident unfolded in Sacramento, California, on Saturday as a 10-year-old boy was shot and killed by another child using a stolen gun. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, the victim succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, joining the tragic statistic of over 1,600 children and teens lost to gun violence in 2023.
Deputies responding to the scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. found the victim unresponsive and bleeding from his head and neck. Witnesses identified the individual responsible as a young boy who fled into a nearby apartment. Authorities detained all occupants, including 53-year-old Arkete Davis and his 10-year-old son.
Investigation revealed that Davis' son, after fetching cigarettes for his father, accessed a gun stashed in his dad's vehicle. Bragging about the firearm, the child proceeded to shoot the victim before fleeing to the apartment. The discarded gun was recovered from a nearby trashcan, allegedly disposed of by Davis.
Authorities confirmed that Davis was legally prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm, and the recovered weapon had been reported stolen in 2017. He faces multiple felony charges, including child endangerment and accessory after the fact, in addition to firearm-related offenses. His bail is set at $500,000.
Meanwhile, the 10-year-old suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder and placed in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility.
The tragic incident underscores the grim reality that firearms have become the leading cause of death for U.S. children, surpassing motor vehicle accidents, which had long held that tragic distinction.
