SACRAMENTO — A man died after being stabbed outside the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento, police said Tuesday evening, and a suspect has now been arrested.
The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 22-year-old Laronn Derose Wilson II.
Malik Wilson, 23, was identified by authorities as the suspect in the homicide. The Sacramento Police Department said Wednesday evening that detectives arrested him around 5 p.m. near Marconi Avenue and Calderwood Lane after a “relentless” search.
Although they have the same last name, police said there was no family connection between the suspect and the victim. Police also said both men were homeless.
It happened around 4:45 p.m. at the Downtown Commons, a few feet from the entrance to G1C, as crowds were entering the arena for a Christian rock concert. Sacramento police said the victim was stabbed at least once and was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
Criminal gangs and barricades prevented onlookers from accessing the gruesome crime scene. Investigators took photos and analyzed evidence from the bloody scene.
“I mean, definitely shocked,” said RayAnn Culver, a concert regular. “I know it’s Sacramento and, you know, various things happen, but DOCO seems like a family-friendly neighborhood, especially during a Christian concert you’re about to attend.”
Despite the proximity of the crime scene and the entrance doors to the arena, the concert, headlined by Lauren Daigle, continued. Many fans didn’t even notice the homicide investigation right next to them.
“It surprises me a little bit,” Culver said. “I don’t know if it’s just a matter of them deciding not to watch or if they’re just not aware of what’s going on.”
“It’s pretty scary,” said Cal Bard, an onlooker. “I mean, I have a seven-year-old younger niece who I know is coming to this concert, and when you look around, there are a lot of young people coming to this concert. I’m actually Glad they did a good job barricading that.”
As downtown faces concerns over public safety and violent crime, homicide investigators now find themselves at the gates of its greatest civic asset in the G1C.
Police also said they believed the victim and suspect were “homeless.”