Police said the attack happened near the Yard House along K Street late Monday.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 21-year-old man was killed and a woman was hospitalized after a double stabbing near Sacramento’s Downtown Commons on Monday night, authorities said. Investigators have not released suspect information and said they are still working to learn what led to the attack.
The stabbing shook one of the city’s busiest nightlife areas, where restaurants, hotels and entertainment draw crowds most nights. Police said the man died from his injuries while the woman survived with serious wounds. Detectives have not announced arrests, a motive or whether the victims knew the attacker, leaving major questions unanswered as the case moves forward.
Officers were called to the 400 block of K Street just before 9:45 p.m. Monday and found a man and a woman suffering from stab wounds near the end of the Downtown Commons complex, police said. The location is near the Yard House restaurant and a nearby hotel, in a stretch that can be packed with diners and people walking between parking garages and the arena area. Both victims were taken to a hospital, and the man later died, police said. Family members later identified him as Dustin DeWitt, 21, of Stockton. Police said the woman was hospitalized and remained alive; by Tuesday, another report described her condition as stable.
Exactly what happened in the minutes before the stabbing has not been made public. Police said the events leading up to the attack were under investigation, and no suspect description had been released as of Tuesday evening. A witness staying at a nearby Holiday Inn, Billy Smuck, told a local television station that he saw a fight outside the hotel before the stabbing. “I didn’t know what was going on, it was this cluster of people, at least 10, just brawling right outside the Holiday Inn,” Smuck said. He said the scene cleared and he saw two people run away. Police have not confirmed how many people were involved or whether the attacker was among those seen running.
DeWitt’s death prompted grief and a growing demand for answers from relatives and friends. His family said he went downtown to meet a friend who was visiting from San Diego, expecting a normal night out. When he did not return home, his family began searching for him, they said. His mother and sister later went to the area after seeing his phone location at DOCO for hours, and they found the crime scene after midnight, they said. His sister described the moment as a rush of dread as they arrived and saw police activity. “We went and there was just cops everywhere,” she said in a televised interview. “And I just, you know, this horrible feeling.”
DeWitt’s mother, Sokha Hem, said her son was focused on his future and had been preparing for a new job. “He had so much going on for him. He had goals,” Hem said in an interview. She said he was about to apply to become a flight attendant and was getting his passport ready. She described him as a hard worker who often balanced more than one job. “He worked really hard,” she said. “Sometimes he would hold two jobs. He hustled.”
His employer, Dutch Bros Coffee, mourned DeWitt in a statement, saying he was “cherished and loved” for the impact he made with co-workers and customers in his local shop. Family members said he was known for bringing energy to gatherings and caring for people around him. His sister said she hopes people remember how devoted he was to the people he loved and the mark he left on those he met. His father, David DeWitt, said the loss has left the family searching for a way forward and determined to push for justice. “We want justice for Dustin, and we will not stop until we get it,” he said.
The stabbing also renewed concerns about safety in and around the Downtown Commons, known as DOCO, a mixed-use hub near Golden 1 Center that includes restaurants, bars, shops and hotels. People who live in the area said the violence was unsettling because the site is marketed as a place for families, visitors and people out for dinner. Sacramento resident Erline Gray said in a televised interview that the attack was troubling in a space many consider a destination. “This is supposed to be a safe place for everyone,” Gray said, adding that she wanted to see more security and police presence.
Police have not said whether the stabbing was targeted or random, and they have not announced whether surveillance video captured the suspect. Downtown Commons has many cameras in and around retail areas, and the streets nearby are covered by traffic and city cameras, but investigators have not described what evidence they have collected. Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators took over the case, according to a local report. In the hours after the stabbing, officers cordoned off parts of the area as people gathered outside restaurants and hotels tried to understand what had happened.
As the investigation continued, DeWitt’s family and supporters began raising money to help with expenses. A fundraiser created online drew thousands of dollars in donations by Tuesday evening, according to a CBS Sacramento report. Supporters posted messages describing DeWitt as upbeat and kind, and his relatives said the public response has helped them feel less alone while they wait for information from investigators.
A vigil was planned for Wednesday evening in Stockton to remember DeWitt, his family said. The gathering was set for 7 p.m. at Nelson Park, a place his relatives said would allow friends and community members to mourn together. Family members said they hoped the vigil would honor DeWitt’s life while also keeping attention on the need for answers about who attacked him and why.
Police asked anyone who saw or heard anything around the time of the stabbing to contact investigators. As of Wednesday morning, officials had not released names for the surviving victim, nor had they announced any arrests or suspect descriptions. Investigators said the circumstances leading up to the stabbing remained under review, and the next expected milestone would be a public update once detectives identify suspects or release more details about what happened.
Author note: Last updated March 4, 2026.