Samantha Sue Cromwell was a vibrant and deeply loved 29-year-old mother whose world revolved around her son. Her family remembers her as a "bright soul," a great daughter, an amazing sister, and a best friend to many. Her stepfather, Cedric Ward, who had been in her life since she was three, said Samantha loved her son, DJ, "more so than anything in the world," and that "she would, you know, scorch the earth for him."
She was a kind-hearted and family-oriented woman who, according to her loved ones, had been trying to build a safe life for herself and her children by escaping an abusive marriage. In the months leading up to her death, she had taken desperate measures to disappear, moving from Fresno and Bakersfield to Sacramento and even quitting her job at Walmart so her husband could not find her.
On Saturday, September 26, 2026, Samantha was focused on celebrating a joyous occasion: her son's 8th birthday. She planned a party at the Urban Air Adventure Park, a trampoline park in a shopping center on the 1700 block of Arden Way in Sacramento’s Arden-Arcade area. She was joined by her childhood friend, Faith, and their young children. The celebration was shattered around 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot outside the venue. Witnesses inside the crowded park heard gunshots, sparking terror as families with young children scrambled for cover. One witness described the scene as "very scary."
Sacramento police officers responded to calls and found two women with gunshot wounds. Samantha Sue Cromwell, a young mother, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her friend Faith was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Faith survived after undergoing several surgeries, and her mother later called her a "fighter." Samantha’s family said her sons witnessed the horrific shooting.
The investigation quickly led Sacramento police to Samantha’s husband, 36-year-old Edward Tucker of Fresno. He was arrested the following day and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on homicide charges. Family members stated that Tucker had somehow learned where Samantha would be that day and confronted her. Her sister-in-law, Brittany White, told reporters that Tucker had previously followed Samantha and harassed her family when she tried to leave him.
Edward Tucker was charged with four felonies: murder, attempted murder, firing into an occupied and moving vehicle, and being a felon in possession of a handgun with a prior strike. He was held without bail. Court records revealed a significant criminal history in Fresno County. In May 2024, Tucker was arrested as part of a gang operation and later pleaded guilty to firing a gun into an occupied home. He was sentenced to three years in prison but was released early due to jail credits. He had other cases pending at the time of the shooting in Sacramento.
In the days that followed, Samantha’s grieving family spoke of their heartbreak and their desire for justice. "I don't wish this pain on anyone," her stepfather, Cedric Ward, said. In a statement, the family remembered Samantha as "a beautiful and caring woman who cherished her baby boy more than anything." A GoFundMe campaign was organized by her sister to help with funeral costs and to support her son, DJ. From jail, Tucker gave an interview in which he called his wife a "good person" with a "big heart" and apologized to her family, saying, "I am truly remorseful for everything that occurred." He denied the abuse allegations, stating they had their "ups and downs."
Tucker appeared in court for the first time on September 29, 2026, facing the families of both victims. His next hearing was scheduled for October. As of October 2026, the case against him was proceeding through the court system. The Sacramento Police Department is handling the investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the dispatch center at (916) 808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-4357, where callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
