Updated 8:48 p.m.
The victim of a fatal Thursday shooting in East Sacramento was 70-year-old Charles Starzynski, who worked at CapRadio from 1979 to 1998, according to information released by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
Sacramento Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting at the 3900 block of N Street — a neighborhood known as the Fabulous Forties — just after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, officials said in a prepared release. When they arrived on scene, investigators discovered Starzynski, who was suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Starzynski was hired as a classical music announcer at Capital Public Radio in 1979 and over the years served as a producer, reporter and host, eventually becoming program director.
"I packed everything I owned into my '65 Mustang and drove from Missoula, Montana, to Sacramento," Starzynski wrote for the CapRadio Members Magazine in 1997. "I consider myself one of the precious few who have a career that is not only creative, but also serves the community."
The station released a statement Friday evening offering condolences to Starzynski's family and friends.
"We are deeply saddened to learn about the tragic death of Charles Starzynski," a CapRadio spokesperson wrote. "Charles was a key staff member when we first launched KXPR in 1979, and he dedicated nearly 20 years to the growth and success of public radio in Sacramento."
Morning Edition anchor Steve Milne says he first met Starzynski in 1983, when Milne was a student intern at the station.
"He wore a lot of hats, on the air and behind the scenes, and was very encouraging,” Milne said of those early days in his career.
Desean Brasser Jr., 23, was arrested late Thursday in the Pocket neighborhood in connection with the shooting, police said. Brasser is being held at the Sacramento County Main Jail on suspected homicide and robbery charges. According to jail records, he is being held without bail.
“This is yet another example of vulnerable people in our community being tragically affected by gun violence,” said Police Chief Kathy Lester. “The community is right to be outraged at this unacceptable behavior.”
Brasser will be arraigned on those charges Monday at 1:30 p.m.
Chris Hagan contributed to this report.
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