On April 10, 2024, at approximately 10:40 p.m., 35-year-old Laverda Pearl "Vee" Robinson and 32-year-old Joresse Jessica Williams were fatally shot in the parking lot of The Eleven Hundred apartment complex on Howe Avenue in Sacramento, California.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene following a ShotSpotter activation and 911 calls reporting gunfire. Upon arrival, deputies found both women with multiple gunshot wounds; they were pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Ricky Hunter, was known to the victims. The following day, April 11, 2024, detectives tracked Hunter to an AT&T store near the Arden Fair Mall. As law enforcement attempted to arrest him in the parking lot, Hunter retrieved a shotgun from his vehicle and shot himself in the chest. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Family members and community advocates have expressed profound grief and concern over the deaths of Robinson and Williams, highlighting the urgent need to address gun violence, particularly its impact on women of color. Leaders have called for increased protective measures and community support to prevent such tragedies in the future.
In the wake of this tragedy, memorials have been established to honor the lives of Laverda Robinson and Joresse Williams, with community members lighting candles and sharing memories to commemorate their legacies.
