The victim, Thomas Umberto Sladek from a Facebook memorial page.
REDDING – A young man is dead as a result of a gunshot wound, and three suspects have now been arrested in the shooting.
On Sunday night at about 7 pm, police were sent to Alta Mesa Park on Saturn Skyway and Scorpius Way on reports of a gunshot victim. According to Redding Police, the arriving officers found the victim, 21-year-old Thomas Umberto Sladek of Redding, wounded and in his car. He was transported to Mercy Medical Center where he died of the injuries.
Witnesses reported that the victim had been in his car when two young men approached. A conversation, or possibly an argument was heard between them, when one of the men fired into the car. Both fled on foot and were seen running east on Venus Way. Witnesses described them as white and Hispanic males in their late teens to early twenties. They also reported possible acne scars on the white suspect’s face.
Logan Jackson Barnhart – the first of the three arrests (Facebook)
The Redding Police investigators developed leads in the case that brought them on Monday to a home on Newbury Lane, less than a mile from the scene of the shooting. They observed the home and contacted the occupants inside, and resident Logan Jackson Barnhart was arrested and a search warrant was served. Through an interview with Barnhart, who was charged with conspiracy, attempted robbery, and murder, police identified two other suspects. Their identities were corroborated with witnesses at the scene.
Alta Mesa Park – the scene of the Sunday evening murder.
At 8 pm Monday, the two young men identified as additional suspects – 18-year-old Dillon Ray Sims and 17-year-old Raquan Anthony Blake Matthews, turned themselves in to Redding Police. Both were interviewed about their part in the shooting and provided statements about their actions. Like Barnhart, they were booked for murder, attempted robbery and conspiracy – Sims at the County Jail and Matthews into the Juvenile Hall. Sims’ bail is set at $1,000,000, and Matthews does not have a bail set due to his juvenile status.
The investigation is ongoing and Redding Police are encouraging anyone with information to contact them at 530-225-4214.
Read More:
Record Searchlight: Two more suspects arrested in Alta Mesa Park shooting
