Sacramento, California – An officer-involved shooting late Thursday afternoon near Exposition Parkway and Challenge Way is under investigation following a reported bank robbery and subsequent police pursuit that ended with a suspect’s death.
A call came in to the Sacramento Police Department just before 4:30 p.m. on January 29, 2026, indicating a robbery in process at a bank in the 1600 block of Response Road. According to the Sacramento Police Department, the caller said the man was white, in his 30s or 40s, wearing a green jacket and blue shirt, and carrying a black backpack.
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Officers who came to the area quickly found someone who fit that description. Police stated they saw the person running toward Exposition Parkway with what looked like a gun in their hand. Officers began pursuing the suspect on foot as the situation rapidly escalated.
An officer-involved shooting happened near the intersection of Exposition Parkway and Challenge Way during the chase. The officers gave the suspect emergency medical care immediately at the spot. The individual in question was taken to a nearby hospital by the Sacramento Fire Department, where he was later declared dead. No officers were hurt during the incident.
Later, investigators found out that the gun found at the scene was an imitation weapon. Police said that the fake gun was taken as evidence and kept as part of the ongoing investigation.
Several parts of the Sacramento Police Department are currently conducting investigations into what happened. The Homicide Unit is in charge of the criminal investigation, while the Internal Affairs Division and the Professional Standards Unit are doing separate reviews at the same time. The department’s Force Investigation Team will also look into the circumstances surrounding the use of force, paying special attention to officer tactics, training, and adherence to department policy.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Public Safety Accountability are are monitoring the process as it moves forward.
The shooting falls under the Sacramento City Council’s policy on police use of force and California Senate Bill 1421, which governs public access to records related to critical incidents involving law enforcement. Police said they will make all relevant video and audio recordings of the event available to the public within 30 days, as required by law.
Authorities pointed out that the investigation is still in its early stages and that things may change as as additional evidence is reviewed and interviews are conducted.
If you saw what happened or know something about the case, please call the Sacramento Police Department’s dispatch center at (916) 808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). You can send in tips without giving your name, and information that leads to an arrest or a big change may be worth up to $1,000. Anonymous tips can also be sent through the “P3 Tips” smartphone app.