Two bodies found in 24 hours
By Niesha Lofing - nlofing@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, September 26, 2008
Police are trying to learn what led to two homicides within 24 hours at a homeless camp in south Sacramento.
They say they are looking into the possibility that the killings are linked.
A man found dead about 4:34 a.m. Thursday was the second victim found in a brushy field along 47th Avenue, across the street from the Campbell's Soup factory and the 47th Avenue light-rail station. An established homeless camp populated by about 25 people is in the field.
The 39-year-old man apparently was killed by blunt force trauma or stabbing, Sacramento Police Sgt. Matt Young said.
The homicide is the second there in less than a day. Police were called to the field at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and found the body of a 38-year-old man who had been shot to death, he said.
The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and might have been killed earlier in the day, he said.
Several witnesses were questioned about Wednesday's homicide, including the man whose body was found Thursday, Young said.
Motives remain unclear for the killings, and Young declined to speculate about what contributed to the violence that claimed the lives of both men, who are believed to have been transients. "We're in the very early stages of our investigation," he said.
The transient camp was devoid of residents Thursday morning, and detectives and Sacramento County sheriff's deputies – who were helping on the case – stood talking among the tattered blankets and garbage that litter the weedy field.
Kevin Fereira, who works at an equipment rental business next to the field, said about 10 homeless campers live on the property.
The business hasn't had any problems other than litter because of the camp, he said.
A sign posted toward the front of the field proclaims the coming of a new soccer complex, Soccer Planet.
The property is owned by Ramon and Connie Herrera, who also own and manage rental properties in Sacramento and a south Sacramento nightclub.
Anyone with information about the homicides is asked to call Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or (800) AA-CRIME. Callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
