On Saturday, December 8, 2012, an armed gunman was shot and killed by officers assigned to the Sacramento Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team ending a tense hostage standoff on the 8300 block of Folsom Boulevard.

At approximately 12:32 p.m., police responded to a report of a take-over type robbery at a fast food restaurant. Officers arrived quickly and confirmed that the suspect was armed with a handgun and still inside the restaurant. Additional reports indicated the gunman was holding employees hostage and threatening to kill them. 

Responding patrol officers evacuated the area, set up a perimeter around the restaurant and summoned the SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful surrender. 

Negotiators were able to make sporadic telephone contact with the suspect and the hostages. During these conversations it was determined that the suspect would not release any hostages and that he had no intention of a peaceful surrender. 

At approximately 2:38 p.m. one hostage was able to escape and ran outside the restaurant to awaiting officers.

During the standoff, the suspect held the victims against their will and forced them around the interior of the restaurant at gunpoint. The suspect was also seen by officers using a hostage as a human shield while moving about the interior of the restaurant. 

Due to suspect's violent actions and the likelihood that the one confirmed remaining hostage was in grave danger of being shot by the suspect, SWAT officers fired upon the suspect from the exterior of the restaurant. Immediately after shooting the suspect, officers rescued the hostage, disarmed the suspect and called for medical aid. The suspect was transported to an area hospital where he later died. Information on the suspect will be released by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office at a later time pending next of kin notification. 

Per department policy, the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave. The Sacramento Police Department's Homicide, Internal Affairs, and Crime Scene Investigations Units are working on this investigation in conjunction with the City's Office of Public Safety Accountability and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. 

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this incident to contact the dispatch center at (916) 264-5471 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.