By Kim Minugh and Carlos Alcalá
kminugh@sacbee.com
Sacramento police are unclear what led an unknown suspect to fatally shoot a 39-year-old man in a Gardenland parking lot early this morning.
However, detectives are aware of the victim's drug history, according to a police spokesman - a history laid out in court records.
About 1:40 a.m., Sacramento police responded to calls reporting gunshots in the area of Northgate Boulevard and West El Camino Avenue, said Sacramento police Sgt. Norm Leong.
There, they found Gregory David Lewis on the ground of a parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound, Leong said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives later learned that Lewis and another person had driven to the parking lot, located between a clothing store and a convenience store, Leong said. Lewis got out of the car to talk to another man, who then shot Lewis and fled, Leong said.
The gunman was described to police as a black man between 30 and 40 years old, 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing between 180 and 210 pounds. The man was wearing dark clothing, according to police.
It's unclear whether the victim and the suspect were acquaintances, Leong said. He declined to describe the relationship between the victim and the person in the car with him for the person's safety, saying only that they knew each other.
Leong said the motive remains elusive, but said detectives know of Lewis' drug history. He also said there is no evidence of gang involvement in the case.
According to Superior Court records, Lewis has been convicted of felony drug possession five times dating back to 1992. Once, he was convicted of felony resisting arrest, and twice he was convicted of misdemeanor evasion of police, the records show.
Efforts by The Bee to contact Lewis' family were unsuccessful.
Saturday's killing was the 16th in the city this year. During the same period last year - which boasted an unusually low homicide tally - there had been nine.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or text in a tip to 274637. Enter "SACTIP" followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Call The Bee's Kim Minugh, (916) 321-1038.
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