In the early hours of Friday, December 8, 2023, the Sacramento Police Department was called to a tragic scene on Sunnyslope Drive following a shooting incident. Christopher Saunders, a 35-year-old male, was found critically injured from a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite efforts by deputies to provide first aid, Saunders was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the media release from the SacPD, the incident unfolded just after 12:30 AM when deputies arrived at an apartment in the 6600 block of Sunnyslope Drive. They discovered Saunders lying outside the apartment, already suffering from his fatal injury.
Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Investigators immediately took charge, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence at the scene. Their investigation revealed a complex domestic situation. Saunders had driven to the apartment in an attempt to find his estranged wife. "When Saunders arrived, he left his car running in the parking lot and banged on the front door multiple times," the media release stated.
The situation escalated when Saunders forcefully entered the apartment, confronting his estranged wife and several other occupants, including an adult male and female, as well as minor children. In a tense standoff, Saunders grabbed his estranged wife, demanding she leave with him. When she refused and the adults in the apartment urged Saunders to leave, a physical altercation ensued involving several family members, including a 15-year-old.
The climax of the incident occurred when the adult male resident, in possession of a legally owned firearm, shot Saunders. This action, according to the Sheriff's Office, was seemingly in defense of the family.
Following the incident, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office was promptly notified. They have initially classified the shooting as a justifiable homicide, leading to the release of the adult male who fired the shot. However, the District Attorney’s Office has indicated that a final determination will be made at a later date.
As of now, there is no further information available. The Sacramento community is left to grapple with the consequences of this domestic dispute turned deadly, reminding us of the complex and often tragic nature of domestic situations.
