Man Dies After Leading Security Officers On An After-Hours Chase Through The Sacramento Kings Arena

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story reported that the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office made the preliminary determination that the man’s “manner of death” was a homicide, according to a spokesperson with the office. CapRadio has since learned from Coroner Kimberly Gin that the manner and cause of death is undetermined.

A man who trespassed and led private security officers on a chase through the Golden 1 Center last Tuesday morning has died after suffering a medical emergency during the pursuit.

The individual, who the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office has identified as a 39-year-old hispanic male, died two days after the incident. 

The incident began just before 4 a.m. on July 2, when the man somehow entered the Sacramento Kings arena, setting private security guards on a chase through the facility that culminated “near the visitors locker room,” according to police scanner traffic on Broadcastify.

The Sacramento Police Department says private security guards had already detained and handcuffed the man when police arrived at the arena. He “became unresponsive” shortly after officers entered the building. The individual “appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance,” according to the department.

He was sent to a local hospital with a “medical emergency” and died on July 4.

The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office was conducting his autopsy on Monday and did not anticipate a final report for at least three months. The manner of his death is still undetermined, according to Coroner Kimberly Gin.

A spokesperson with the police department said that investigators are looking at the incident, including reviewing footage from the many cameras near the arena and Downtown Commons entertainment district.

A spokesperson for the Kings did not return a request to discuss the man's death.

CapRadio has made a California Public Records Act request for all police department communications about the incident, including an official incident report, 911 audio recordings and any officer body-worn camera footage.