Vincent Richard Lanzi, a 38-year-old resident of West Sacramento, California, tragically lost his life on October 26, 2021. On that day, officers from the West Sacramento Police Department responded to a call on the 2100 block of Orchard Way, where they found Lanzi unresponsive, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save him, Lanzi succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The Yolo County Coroner’s Office later confirmed his identity.
The investigation into Lanzi's death quickly led to the identification and arrest of a suspect, 27-year-old Ernesto Gonzalez. Gonzalez was apprehended the morning after the incident and booked into Yolo County Jail on multiple felony charges. These charges included murder, attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person previously convicted of a felony. Gonzalez's prior felony conviction prohibited him from possessing a firearm, adding to the severity of the charges against him.
Legal proceedings began swiftly following Gonzalez's arrest. He was arraigned in Yolo Superior Court on October 29, 2021, where he faced the aforementioned charges. A pre-hearing conference was scheduled for November 15, 2021, to further address the case. The community of West Sacramento was left in shock and mourning, as Lanzi was remembered fondly by friends and family. His death highlighted ongoing concerns about gun violence and the challenges of preventing such tragedies, especially involving individuals with prior criminal records.
