From Kim Minugh and Andy Furillo:
Sacramento police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with Saturday morning's fatal shooting outside the Center Court restaurant and night club in Natomas, according to authorities.
Detectives allege Nicholas Newsome shot and killed David Blanks, 22, in a gang-related dispute, said Sacramento police Officer Konrad von Schoech. Both the victim and the suspect are from Sacramento and are associated with gangs, von Schoech said.
Newsome was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail early Monday morning on suspicion of murder, according to booking records. He declined a request to be interviewed by The Bee on Monday afternoon.
Witnesses told detectives they heard the suspect's group of friends and the victim's group of friends arguing before the shooting, which was reported just before 2 a.m. in the 3600 block of North Freeway Boulevard, von Schoech said.
Blanks was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gang detectives assisted in the investigation and arrested Newsome inside the movie theater next to Arden Fair Mall, von Schoech said.
Newsome, who is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, has a history of gun possession, according to Sacramento Superior Court records. In 2008, he pleaded no contest to carrying a .9 mm handgun and a .357 revolver "capable of being concealed" when he wasn't the registered owner, court records show. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and four years of probation.
Also in 2008, Newsome pleaded no contest to a felony count of falsely identifying himself to a police officer and received 15 days in jail and three years of probation, court records show. Earlier that year, he pleaded no contest to driving erratically while evading a peace officer and driving under the influence, both misdemeanors, according to records. In that case, Newsome was sentenced to 180 days in jail and three years of probation.
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