The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a police station, screaming at protesters on a mobile phone. More than 100 bullets were fired – many in bursts – during the short battle. Police said at least five gunmen from at least two gangs opened fire, but so far only three men have been arrested in the investigation and no one has been charged with homicide. Only two of these men – brothers who were among the wounded – have been linked to the shooting, although they are currently facing only gun charges. Some things you need to know about the situation: WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR SHOTS? Two brothers, Smiley and Dandrae Martin, are the only two people arrested so far who have been linked by police to the shooting. A third man was arrested near the scene of the clash with a weapon that police do not believe was shot during the clash. Dandrae Martin, 26, is the only suspect identified by police as the perpetrator. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a lethal weapon, but prosecutors have only charged him with possession of a firearm. Martin, who suffered a minor gunshot wound, did not speak during a brief hearing in Sacramento Supreme Court this week on charges of being a firearm convict. His lawyer told him he would not decide whether to ask for bail until prosecutors decided whether to charge him with a more serious crime. Smiley Martin, 27, was seriously injured in the shooting and was taken to hospital on suspicion of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a machine gun. Both brothers have a criminal record that includes convictions for violent attacks on women who encouraged them to work as prostitutes, according to prosecutors and court records. Smiley Martin was released from prison under police surveillance in February after serving less than half of his 10-year sentence for voter-approved changes to state law that reduced the punishment for certain crimes and provided an opportunity for early release. An opportunity for freedom even earlier was rejected in May 2021, after prosecutors wrote to the Release Board, citing Martin’s lengthy rap sheet, saying he “obviously does not respect human life and the law.” WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE SHOTS? Police have not yet revealed what led to the clash, but a 15-minute video posted live on Facebook earlier in the night by Smiley Martin showed him wielding a large gun, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press. The video, released about four hours before the shooting, is believed to have been shot in a parking lot in northern Sacramento. Smiley and Dandrae Martin were in the video, along with Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi, one of the men who lost their lives in the shooting, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the details of the investigation in public and spoke to the AP under the term of anonymity. Investigators believe some of the men involved in the shooting were members of the Crips street gang, the official said. At least one of the victims had been linked to law enforcement by the Bloods gang, according to the official. In the video, Smiley Martin repeatedly waved a pistol at the camera, saying at one point that he was going to a club but had no identity, the official said. He also spoke of a connection to the Crips street gang and Hoye-Lucchesi could be heard making secret threats against someone else, according to the official. Elsewhere in the video, the pistol appeared to be buttoned in Martin’s waist, the official said. The video also shows local police officers driving nearby and calling the team to ask if they had seen a child nearby, the official said. The men replied that they had not before the policeman left. Sacramento police spokesman Chad Lewis said police were aware of the video, which included three of the men involved in the shooting. He said the video showed people wielding guns and, at some point, a police cruiser was rolled up. WHAT TYPE OF WEAPONS DID THEY KEEP? Police have not yet revealed the type of weapons used in the shooting, but said more than 100 rounds of ammunition were fired, based on the number of shells found. Witnesses provided more than 200 videos and photos and tips that helped investigators, police said. The explosion of the shots heard in videos posted on the Internet had the ring of semi-automatic or automatic weapons. A stolen pistol found at the scene had been turned into a weapon capable of firing automatically. Police were trying to determine if he was used in the clash. Smiley Martin faces charges of possessing a machine gun, although police have not said anything about whether the weapon was used in the shooting. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said police were trying to find out if the weapon that appeared to be sporting the video was used in the attack. Police also seized a handgun during a search of three homes after the shooting. They were three fathers raising their young children, a sister driving downtown to pick up her older brother for a night out, a director saving her concert tickets, and a woman living on the streets looking for shelter. The memory of the six people who were killed by memorials in the streets of the city center with photos, candles, cards, balloons and, in one case, two empty Hennessy drink bottles. The Sacramento County Medical Examiner identified them as: Johntaya Alexander, 21; Melinda Davis, 57; Yamile Martinez-Andrade, 21; Sergio Harris, 38; Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi, 32; and De’vazia Turner, 29. Of the 12 injured, at least two remained in hospital on Friday. Police say Smiley Martin will be being held in Sacramento County Jail after being released from hospital. Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, Don Thompson in Sacramento, and Michael Balsamo Washington contributed to this report.
