Friday, 17 July 2026, 6:02
On Wednesday morning, a chaotic series of events in the Foothill Farms area of Sacramento County ended with a deputy fatally shooting a man who had just stabbed two women. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office reported that the suspect, wielding a kitchen knife, first threatened employees at a Starbucks on Diablo Drive near Woodforest Drive. Employees barricaded themselves in a back room as the man tried to push through. He then fled before deputies arrived, but a deputy spotted him running across the road into an open garage, where he attacked a 63-year-old woman and her 26-year-old daughter. The deputy shot and killed the suspect to stop the attack.
According to Sgt. Edward Igoe, the employees at Starbucks “actually fled into a back room and attempted to barricade as he was trying to push through. These poor guys are trying to move a fridge in front of the door just to be able to secure it.” The suspect then left the Starbucks and, within minutes, entered a nearby garage and stabbed the two women. The mother and daughter were both seriously injured but are expected to survive. The deputy who witnessed the attack “heroically arrived on scene and was able to stop this man from murdering the two adult women,” Igoe said. The suspect was described as a homeless individual, and authorities confirmed there was no known relationship between him and the victims.
“Absolutely no relationship between any of them. This monster just saw an open garage, saw a victim, and immediately started attacking,” Igoe added.
Neighbors described the scene as chaotic and frightening. Cassius Ekeh, who lives next door, said he initially thought the commotion was caused by barking dogs. “I had my garage open, I walked out, I kind of heard some screaming. Like it. They have dogs next door. So their dogs were barking and stuff like that,” Ekeh said. He later heard gunshots and saw officers providing aid to the victims. “When that happened, there was a cop coming out,” Ekeh said. “He was dragging one of the ladies out trying to, you know, help her out and provide aid. And then the older lady was walking out. She was bleeding and stuff like that. And another cop was trying to give her aid.”
Starbucks confirmed that all of their employees are safe and followed established safety procedures; the shop is operating normally.
According to sheriff's officials, the 63-year-old woman was getting into her vehicle when the suspect attacked her, stabbing and cutting her numerous times. Her 26-year-old daughter heard her mother's screams and pushed the suspect off her mother, preventing further injuries. The suspect then turned and attacked the daughter, stabbing and cutting her numerous times. A deputy pulled into the driveway while the man was still stabbing the daughter and opened fire, Igoe said. Other deputies arrived and began providing medical aid to all three people. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Both women suffered numerous cuts and stab wounds and were taken to a hospital; their conditions were described as serious but stable.
Authorities have not identified the suspect, who was described only as an adult man. Callers initially described him as transient, but investigators have not confirmed that information. Deputies said the man was not carrying any identification. Sheriff's officials also clarified that the man was not previously wanted for attempted murder; rather, deputies encountered him while he was allegedly trying to kill the two women. Investigators have not said how many shots the deputy fired. No deputies were injured.
Neighbor Ian Mozqueda said, "There's times that we leave our garage door open, so you think it could have been us, or any of our other neighbors around us. It's just sad to hear." Another neighbor, Israela Mamaril, said the attack left her feeling "unsafe."
The incident occurred in the Foothill Farms neighborhood, unincorporated Sacramento County, near the intersection of Diablo Drive and Woodforest Drive, north of Elkhorn Boulevard. The area saw a large response from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, California Highway Patrol, and Twin Rivers Unified School District Police Services. A nearby school was not in session, so no students were affected. Traffic on Diablo Road between Bootjack Road and Lancelot Drive was closed during the investigation and reopened just before 5 p.m.
Sacramento County has experienced a series of violent incidents involving homeless individuals and weapons, though this attack appears to be a random stranger assault. The sheriff’s office has not released further details about the suspect’s identity or criminal history. The deputy involved is on administrative leave pending an investigation, which is standard protocol after a shooting.
The swift action of a Sacramento County deputy likely prevented a double murder on Wednesday. The two victims remain hospitalized with serious injuries, while the suspect is dead. The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of violent crime and the critical role of law enforcement in protecting the public. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities.
