Man Killed in Assault Near Downtown Sacramento Housing Complex

Sacramento police arrested a man on Saturday after an assault near a supportive housing complex left a man dead.

Officers responded to the area of Ninth Street near St. Clare at Capitol Park shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday. They found a man unconscious at the scene. The victim later died at a hospital.

Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Manuel Rivas. They charged him with homicide-related offenses. The investigation into the circumstances of the death remains ongoing.

St. Clare at Capitol Park occupies the historic Capitol Park Hotel building. Mercy Housing converted the property into permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness in 2024. The organization said it is cooperating with police and providing support to residents and staff.

"Our hearts are with the loved ones of the man who lost his life and with everyone in the Saint Clare community affected by this tragedy," Mercy Housing said in a statement.

Local business owners say the incident adds to a pattern of safety concerns in the downtown area. Steven Bauer, owner of USA Valet Parking, said he supports housing for those in need but questions the location's impact on nearby businesses.

"Providing housing for people who need it is a great idea, providing housing in a downtown economic corridor like that, it's a sandwich of crime, danger and a lack of safety," Bauer said.

Bauer noted that the J, K, and L street corridors have been particularly challenging for his valet services. In April, one of his employees was assaulted with a hammer while walking past the complex. Bauer said the employee did not know the assailant.

"Fractured her skull, required surgery. She's got a titanium plate in her head now to keep that intact," Bauer said. He added that previous incidents have been difficult for him and his staff to discuss.

Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho referred to the location as a site of repeated incidents, including assaults with knives and guns, in a statement made nearly a year ago.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said city officials are communicating with police and downtown business leaders to understand the incident and improve public safety. John Vignocchi, CEO of Region Business, argued that recent declines in crime rates should be viewed in the context of the spike that occurred during the pandemic.

"The reality is we're just basically back to where we were before COVID, and COVID was obviously a huge spike in crime," Vignocchi said.