(Daily360.com) Smiley Martin, a suspect in a 2022 Sacramento mass shooting, died in custody while awaiting his trial.
Martin was 29 years old at the time of his death and was found unresponsive in his cell. The officers in the jail attempted life-saving protocols, but Martin’s death was announced at the scene. No cause of death has yet been provided by the coroner and an investigation is underway to determine what caused Martin’s death.
On April 3, 2022, there was a mass shooting in Sacramento, California that killed six people and injured a dozen more. According to the police, there were at least five suspects involved in the shooting that occurred in the early hours of the morning. There were at least 100 shots fired outside an entertainment district just around the time of last call at 2 a.m.
Martin was arrested and charged with three felonies related to the mass shooting in 2022. His public defender called Martin’s death “tragic,” and said he was in a battle to defend his innocence. Martin’s brother, Dandrae Martin, was also charged with two felonies for his role in the Sacramento shooting. Only one other man, Mtula Payton, was charged in connection with the shooting despite the police statement that at least five individuals were involved with the attack.
The 2022 shooting was reportedly caused by gang violence. A video from the night in question shows a fight that occurs, which is followed by at least 45 seconds of rapid gunfire. Martin and his brother were both injured during the shootout before getting arrested and charged.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics tracks the mortality rate of prisoners being held in local jails. In 2019, there was a 5% increase to 167 per 100,000 inmates. The Marshall Project showed a 50% increase in prison mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the virus. The cause of Martin’s death is yet to be revealed.
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