2001 Sacramento shootings
{{Short description|Mass shootings in Sacramento, California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2001 Sacramento shooting
| image =
| location = Sacramento, California, U.S.
| coordinates =
| date = September 8–10, 2001
| map =
| map_caption =
| time =
| timezone =
| type = {{hlist|Spree killing|murder–suicide}}
| weapons =
| fatalities = 6 (including the perpetrator)
| injuries = 2
| motive =
| perp = Joseph Ferguson
}}
On September 8 and 10, 2001, 20-year-old Joseph Ferguson committed multiple shootings in Sacramento, California, killing five people and injuring two others before shooting and killing himself following a shootout with authorities on September 10.
Background
Joseph Ferguson was born in September 1980 and was one of three sons of Susan and Thomas Ferguson. He grew up in south Sacramento. In December 1998, his parents divorced. In 1999, his mother was imprisoned for 14 years after a plea deal of no contest to charges of molesting Ferguson and one of his brothers when they were less than 14 years old.{{cite news |last1=Wiegand |first1=Steve |last2=Furillo |first2=Andy |title=Ferguson 'one of those loner kids' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-ferguson-one-of-thos/114392761/ |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=10 September 2001 |df=mdy-all |pages=2 |language=en}}
Ferguson held a private security guard permit, which was issued in March 1999.
Ferguson commenced working for Burns International Security in 1999 but was suspended from his job on September 7, 2001, after his ex-girlfriend and fellow security guard, Nina Susu, reported that he had vandalized her car with an ax after she broke up with him earlier in the week.{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Eric |last2=Fields |first2=Robin |title=Shootout Vowed in Chilling Video |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-11-mn-44550-story.html |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=11 September 2001 |df=mdy-all |language=en}} The company management, and Susu, contacted the FBI to warn of threats Ferguson had also made. Although a report was made and the Sacramento police were also contacted, no further action was taken at that time due to Ferguson's lack of a criminal record.
Shootings
Late on September 8, 2001, Ferguson fatally shot two Burns Security guards at the city corporation yard;{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Sam |last2=Bell |first2=Ted |title=Slaying suspect kills self |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee/155256723/ |access-date=September 14, 2024 |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=September 10, 2001 |page=1}} his first victim was Susu, his ex-girlfriend.{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Eric |last2=Fields |first2=Robin |date=September 11, 2001 |title=Shootout Vowed in Chilling Video |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-11-mn-44550-story.html |access-date=September 15, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}} Later that night, Ferguson shot and killed two more people at the Miller Park marina: a third Burns security guard, and a 19-year-old marina worker. Around midnight, Ferguson handcuffed an additional security guard to a tree and fled the scene. On September 9, Ferguson killed a fifth person at a home in Rancho Cordova's Lincoln Village neighborhood. One of the victims, 20-year-old Nina Susu, was Ferguson's ex-girlfriend who he had recently broken up with. After vandalizing Susu's car, Ferguson was suspended from his job.{{cite news |title=Ex-guard sought in Sacramento killings |url=https://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/09/sacramento.shootings/index.html |access-date=September 14, 2024 |work=CNN |date=September 9, 2001}}{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Don |title=Suspect kills himself - Guard made videotape before shootout |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee/155256906/ |access-date=September 14, 2024 |work=The Modesto Bee |date=September 11, 2001 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee/155256906/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee/155256910/ 12]}}
Early on September 10, Ferguson shot and injured an officer after exchanging fire with authorities at Folsom Boulevard and Zinfandel Drive, using a converted fully-automatic AK-47. During the exchange, a stray bullet struck a 27-year-old bystander in the abdomen, injuring him. Ferguson, who was unscathed from the exchange,{{cite news |title=Sacramento shooter was unscathed before killing self, autopsy shows |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/merced-sun-star/155257035/ |access-date=September 14, 2024 |work=Merced Sun-Star |agency=Associated Press |date=September 15, 2001 |page=2}} shot and killed himself shortly after the shootout.
Aftermath
Ferguson and his shooting received short-lived coverage; the incident was quickly overshadowed by the September 11 attacks on September 11, 2001.{{cite news |last1=Garvin |first1=Cosmo |title=SN&R • Local Stories • News • DA shadow • Aug 28, 2003 |url=https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content/da-shadow/15738/ |access-date=September 15, 2024 |work=Sacramento News & Review |date=August 28, 2003 |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sacramento}}
{{Mass shootings in the United States in the 2000s}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sacramento shooting, 2001}}
Category:2000s crimes in California
Category:2001 murders in the United States