On March 14, 2025, Dawn Nicole Wagner, a 50-year-old woman from Sacramento, California, was fatally shot in the parking lot of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, located on the 7500 block of Center Parkway. According to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office, she was pronounced dead at the scene around 5:45 p.m. At the time of the incident, both Wagner and the suspect were attending a Narcotics Anonymous meeting at the church.
The church later stated that Wagner had come seeking comfort and support.
The suspect, identified as 64-year-old John Albert Binion of Sacramento, turned himself in at the Sacramento County Main Jail shortly after the incident. He was arrested and booked on charges including felony murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. Police believe that Wagner and Binion knew each other, though the exact nature of their relationship and the motive for the shooting remain under investigation.
Dawn Nicole Wagner was born on January 21, 1975, in Monterey, California, and most recently resided in Sacramento. She was a mother to three daughters and a grandmother to six grandchildren. Her family described her as an inspiration who had reclaimed her life in recent years, emphasizing her resilience and the positive impact she had on those around her.
The tragic loss of Dawn Nicole Wagner has deeply affected her family and the Sacramento community. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church expressed condolences, highlighting the sorrow felt by the community and the importance of coming together to find healing.
