On April 10, 2026, 16-year-old De’Jon Sledge, also known as "DayDay," was fatally shot near Natomas High School in Sacramento, California. The incident prompted a law enforcement response and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. In the days following Sledge's death, a 16-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting.
Initially, the suspect was expected to face a number of felony firearm-related charges.
Further details emerged when the Sacramento County Coroner's Office officially identified De'Jon Sledge as the victim. His family, through a community advocacy group, released a statement describing him as an honors student who was dedicated to his academics. His mother also pushed back against rumors circulating on social media, stating that her son was not affiliated with any gang. The family expressed their devastation, saying they were in a state of shock and had not been directly contacted by law enforcement about his death, learning of it instead from a community member. A GoFundMe was organized to assist the family with unexpected financial burdens.
In a significant development, the Sacramento County prosecutors' office announced that no homicide charges would be filed against the 16-year-old student who was arrested. The decision was based on the conclusion that the student had acted in self-defense. Authorities stated that their investigation revealed Sledge had come to the campus with a handgun with the intent to rob the other student when he was shot. Following the incident, the Natomas Unified School District increased the presence of safety teams, Sacramento police, and mental health professionals on the high school campus to support students and staff.
