Terrance Long, a 32-year-old resident of Sacramento, California, tragically lost his life on October 30, 2021, during a shooting at the "Erotic Exotic Halloween Ball" held at the Royal Castle Banquet Hall. The event, which had an estimated attendance of 350-400 people, turned deadly when gunfire erupted just before 1 a.m. Sacramento County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the scene and found multiple victims. Terrance Long was among those who succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
According to witnesses, the shooting seemed to last several agonizing minutes, with gunfire both inside and outside the venue. Long was described by friends and family as a kind and helpful individual who was caught in the crossfire of a senseless act of violence.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that seven people were shot, with two fatalities, including Long. The other deceased victim was identified as 22-year-old Daron Turner. Four additional victims were transported to local hospitals by private vehicles and were expected to recover. The chaotic nature of the event, with people trying to hide and protect themselves, added to the difficulty in identifying the shooters and their motives. Despite the initial lack of arrests, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office continued to investigate, reviewing video footage from a nearby business in hopes of identifying the suspects.
In a significant development, Hykeem Marquis Davis, a 21-year-old, was arrested in connection with the double homicide. Davis was apprehended in Fairfield with the assistance of local police and was held in the Sacramento County Main Jail without bail. The arrest brought a mix of emotions for Long's family, particularly his mother, Pamela Welch, who expressed a sense of relief and hope for justice. Welch also conveyed her forgiveness towards the suspect, emphasizing the opportunity for him to turn his life around despite the irreversible loss of her son. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence and the impact it has on communities, as well as the efforts of law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice.
