SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An 18-year-old killed in a shooting early Sunday morning in south Natomas has been identified as Jeremiah Walker, a Grant Union High School student, according to a family spokesperson.
"I'm speaking on behalf of the family because they're distraught. They're not ready to speak to media, but they gave me their blessing to make sure that the world knows that Jeremiah Walker was a beautiful kid," said Berry Accius. "He was on his way to beautiful and great things. He was about to leave to go to Alabama after graduating out of high school to help his mom."
He says Walker was the oldest of three children and was raised by a single mother.
The Sacramento Police Department said Walker was found on the 3100 block of Buchman with a life-threatening gunshot wound after multiple reports of a shooting came in around 1 a.m.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. It's not clear what led up to the shooting, but a homicide investigation is ongoing.
Accius says Walker and other high school students gathered for a party on Buchman Street before someone pulled out a gun and shot him.
“He just was coming to a prom get together and unfortunately things happened,” said Accius.
For neighbors, the shooting was the latest incident involving the house. They say something happens every month, but this incident turned deadly.
"Things happen where the police have to show up and break up a party or a problem or something regarding that place," said Raad Masri, who lives nearby. "It is a never ending problem."
Walker attended Grant Union High School. He was only a few weeks from graduation.
The Twin Rivers Unified School District provided the statement below to ABC10.
Our hearts ache as we mourn the tragic loss of one of our Twin Rivers Unified students to gun violence. Jeremiah Walker was a senior at Grant Union High School. This is an incredibly difficult time, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Jeremiah’s family and friends who are going through unimaginable pain.
As we mourn together, we will honor Jeremiah’s memory by striving to create a safer, more compassionate and peaceful environment for all, especially our children. But we can’t do it alone. It’s going to take every member of the community working together to prevent these senseless acts of violence that continue to shatter far too many families.
In the wake of this tragedy, the District’s Crisis Intervention Team will be at Grant Union High School on Monday as we come together to grieve and heal.
