Smiley Martin: 2022 Sacramento mass shooting suspect died in custody, lawyer says

CNN
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A 29-year-old man who was being held on charges related to a 2022 mass shooting that left 6 people dead and 12 injured in Sacramento, California, died in prison over the weekend, his lawyer told CNN.

The suspect, Smiley Martin, was facing a murder charge, according to CNN affiliate KCRA. He was also charged with two counts of firearm possession. linked to the April 2022 shooting that police say involved at least five shooters and left behind a chaotic crime scene littered with more than 100 shell casings. Two other people, including Martin's brother, were also arrested in connection with the incident.

Martin's lawyer, Norman Dawson, said he was alerted to his death early Saturday.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office announced on social media that a 29-year-old man was found unresponsive in his cell around 2:15 a.m. Saturday, but despite rescue efforts, he was ultimately declared dead. Although the agency did not name Martin as the detainee, it said the man had been in custody since the date of Martin's arrest, April 20, 2022.

The sheriff's office said it will investigate the death and the cause of death will be determined by the county coroner's office.

Dawson said his legal team was “deeply saddened” by Martin’s unexpected death. “It is extremely tragic that Mr. Martin died while fighting to defend his innocence at the preliminary hearing,” Dawson said.

“Mr. Martin's defense team extends its deepest condolences to his family and we are here to support the family moving forward.”

Following the downtown Sacramento shooting, investigators said they believed at least five shooters from two groups exchanged gunfire, leading them to believe it was related to gang violence.

Sacramento Police Sgt. Zach Eaton did not specify the suspects' gang affiliations at the time.

Martin was found at the scene of the shooting with serious gunshot wounds and transported to a local hospital, authorities said. His brother, Dandrae Martin, was also among those injured and remains in prison on charges of murder and possessing a firearm as a felon, according to prison records.

CNN's Elizabeth Wolfe contributed to this report.