Jury deadlocks on 1st-degree murder charges in Sacramento K Street mass shooting trial, sources say
A Sacramento jury has deadlocked on first-degree murder charges against the two men accused in the 2022 K Street mass shooting, sources confirmed to CBS News Sacramento.
Sources told CBS News Sacramento that the judge dismissed the first-degree murder counts after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The jury has now been instructed to continue deliberating on the lesser charge of second-degree murder.
Jurors are expected to resume deliberations next week.
The trial of Dandrae Martin and Mtula Payton began in April, more than four years after the early morning shooting that left six people dead and 12 others injured in Downtown Sacramento. The April 3, 2022, shooting occurred as crowds were leaving nearby bars and nightclubs, making it the deadliest mass shooting in Sacramento history.
Martin and Payton are charged with multiple counts of murder and weapons violations. A third defendant — Smiley Martin, Deandre's brother — died in custody from methadone toxicity in 2024 before the case went to trial.
Prosecutors allege the defendants participated in a planned gun battle between rival gangs near the corner of 10th and K streets. According to prosecutors, three bystanders — Johntaya Alexander, Melinda Davis and Yamile Martinez — were killed after being caught in the crossfire. The other victims — Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi, Sergio Harris and De'Vazia Turner — were allegedly involved in the shootout.
Defense attorneys have argued the shooting was a spontaneous act of self-defense rather than a planned gang confrontation.
Mark Reichel, a defense attorney unrelated to the case with decades of experience trying cases like this, explained why that theory may have fallen short.
"They weren't able to prove that at all. They showed that people started shooting at each other, but they really didn't have the proof that this was done because they were rival gang members," he told CBS News Sacramento. "So that's where it fell apart right there."
A conviction on second-degree murder carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Leia Scheink, a Sacramento activist and founder of Empact, has stood with the victim's families since the start and says they don't want the jury to rush their decision.
"Ultimately, what we want is for the jury to consider all of the evidence, whatever that was, and we want them to make a decision that is fair and is just, whatever that should be," she told CBS News Sacramento.
Opening statements in the case began in April, following multiple delays, including the death of Smiley Martin and disputes over evidence and pretrial motions.
The Sacramento Superior Court has not yet announced when the jury is expected to return a verdict.
CBS News Sacramento reached out to the Sacramento District Attorney's Office but has not yet received a response.
