(Rightallegiance.com) – A 29-year-old man, Smiley Martin, who was linked to a tragic mass shooting in Sacramento, California in 2022, was found dead in his jail cell over the weekend. The shooting had left six people dead, and Martin was awaiting trial on three felony charges in connection to the incident.
His attorney confirmed his death to Fox News Digital on Monday, expressing that it was a tragedy that he passed away while fighting for his innocence.The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying that a 29-year-old inmate died while in custody at the Sacramento County Main Jail on Saturday around 2:15 a.m.
Although they did not identify the deceased inmate, the details match those of Martin. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death and release the man’s name once his next of kin are notified. The sheriff’s office is also investigating the death.
Jail deputies discovered an unresponsive inmate during a routine cell check, and they immediately tried to save his life by attempting life-saving procedures as medical staff and the fire department responded. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin was awaiting trial on felony charges of murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession and transport of a machine gun related to the April 3, 2022, shooting.
The shooting had occurred in a downtown entertainment area near the state Capitol building, where more than 100 shots were fired at around 2 a.m. The area was filled with bar patrons who were leaving at closing time. Shocking video footage from witnesses posted on social media showed rapid gunfire for at least 45 seconds as people screamed in terror and ran to escape the bullets.
The tragic event resulted in the deaths of three women and three men, and 12 others were injured, including two of the alleged shooters. According to the police, at least five gunmen were involved in the mass shooting.At the time of the shooting, Martin was 27 years old. He was arrested while hospitalized with gunshot wounds and later charged with the felony charges. His brother, Dandrae Martin, who was 26 at the time, was also arrested as a suspect on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He had suffered minor wounds in the shooting.