Anthony Barajas

On a bright Sunday morning in Sacramento, California, Anthony Barajas, a 20-year-old man, was simply running an errand with his younger brother. The two had just finished a quick shopping trip at a Home Depot on Meadowview Road on June 28, 2015. As Anthony sat in his car in the store's parking lot, the ordinary summer day was shattered by a single, inexplicable act of violence. A shot was fired from a passing vehicle, striking the young man in the chest. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but the injury was fatal, and he was pronounced dead.

In the wake of the shooting, Anthony’s family and friends were left grappling with a devastating loss and a profound lack of answers. His mother, Sandra Rose, described the call she received about the governor's reward years later as "amazing," a moment that brought a renewed sense of hope that someone might finally come forward with information. Investigators from the Sacramento Police Department worked the case, obtaining surveillance footage that captured a possible suspect vehicle, but despite their efforts, all leads were eventually exhausted. Police could find no motive for the killing. Anthony Barajas had no criminal history and no known connections that would explain why he was targeted in such a brazen, public attack.

The investigation stalled for years, but Anthony's family never gave up their fight for justice. Starting in September 2019, friends and family began a letter-writing campaign, appealing directly to the governor’s office to offer a reward in the case. Their persistence paid off. In December 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Anthony’s murder. "It gives me hope," Sandra Rose said at the time. "It gives me hope that somebody will come out and say something."

A Sacramento Police officer, Karl Chan, echoed that sentiment, stating, "With this reward, hopefully somebody will come forward and we can put those pieces together … really find out what happened in this case and find out why things happened and bring somebody to justice." The reward offered a potential breakthrough in a case that had long gone cold, a financial incentive for anyone who might have been hesitant to speak up.

Despite the renewed attention, the case remained unsolved. The years continued to pass without an arrest, but the commitment from state officials did not wane. The pain of an unsolved crime, as the Governor's office noted, erodes public safety and leaves families waiting far too long for answers.

As of April 2026, Anthony Barajas's murder is still an open and active cold case. Recognizing the ongoing need for public assistance, Governor Gavin Newsom officially reissued the $50,000 reward for information that could finally solve the case and bring a measure of peace to Anthony’s loved ones. The Sacramento Police Department continues to seek tips from the public. Anyone with information about the shooting of Anthony Barajas is urged to contact the department's Office of Investigations at 916-808-0650.