On June 23, 2024, 51-year-old Charles Edward Blanks was fatally shot along the 400 block of Arden Way in Old North Sacramento. Responding officers found Blanks with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the days following the incident, the Sacramento Police Department arrested two teenage suspects in connection with Blanks' death. A 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were taken into custody on suspicion of robbery and murder.
Investigators believe that a robbery was occurring at the time of the shooting, suggesting that Blanks may have been targeted during the commission of this crime.
The Sacramento County Coroner's Office confirmed Blanks' identity shortly after the incident. Blanks was a cherished father, brother, and grandfather, known for his devotion to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Born on January 15, 1973, in Laurel, Mississippi, he later moved to Sacramento, California. His family remembers him for his quiet independence, resilience, and profound love for them.
The arrests of the two minors have brought some measure of progress in the investigation into Blanks' death. Both teenagers face serious charges, including robbery and murder, as the legal process unfolds. The community continues to mourn the loss of Blanks, whose life was tragically cut short.
