SACRAMENTO—The killing of a Sutter County man on Monday, September 28 in a Sacramento shopping center may have been related to drugs and not a random act, as police originally thought,
“Based on the evidence, it’s related to narcotics, specifically marijuana,” said Sgt. Doug Morse, a Sacramento Police Department spokesman.
The homicide occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the busy parking lot of Natomas Marketplace, located at Interstate 80 and Truxel Road in Sacramento.
Morse said police are seeking a least one person in the killing, but did not release descriptions or specify the number of attackers thought to be involved.
Victim Wlter Michael Gibson (DMV)
On Tuesday, the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Walter Michael Gibson, 53, of Rio Oso, a small community 26 miles north of Sacramento. The victim is survived by his wife and two teenage children.
Gibson was a longtime employee of the Campbell Soup plant in Sacramento, and recently worked as a maintenance manager at Woodland-based PGP International.
Mike Scully, superintendent of Browns Elementary School in Rio Oso, told the Sacramento Bee that he knew the Gibsons, and said that the drug speculation involving the victim “doesn’t fit his profile.”
A neighbor, who declined to be identified out of fear, described Gibson as a family man who loved to fish. “He’s always been a good neighbor. It’s just unbelievable.”
According to court records, Gibson did not have a criminal record in Sacramento County.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting can call the Sacramento Police Department at (916) 264-5471 or Crime Alert at 916-443-4357, or text a tip to 274637. Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information.
Read More: Sacramento Bee
