Friends Gather In Old Sacramento To Mourn Shooting Victim
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A day after a shooting marred the New Year's Eve celebration in Old Sacramento, leaving two people dead, friends gathered to remember one of those killed.
The boardwalk was still soaked with blood Tuesday in front of the shooting scene where one of the victims tried to stop a fight when he was shot and killed.
"I'm sure he took a bullet for somebody because that was just the type of person he was," Igor Khavin said of his friend Dan Ferrier, 36.
On a day to celebrate new beginnings, friends instead were mourning Ferrier's death.
"Outstanding person, got a heart of gold, one of those people who would take his shirt off his back and give it to someone who needed it more," Jesse Smith said of his friend.
Police say that Dan was trying to break up a fight inside the Sports Corner Café when a gunman opened fire, hitting and killing Dan and another man. The suspect was identified Tuesday as Carlito Montoya, 22.
Another woman was shot. She's expected to survive. Montoya and an armed security guard then exchanged gunfire and both suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police finally stopped the gun battle by taking Montoya into custody. He's at a local hospital receiving treatment for multiple gunshot wounds, police spokeswoman Officer Michele Gigante said Tuesday.
"We had a phone call that Dan was killed, and it hit like a ton of bricks," Smith said.
Now, Dan's close friends are suddenly mourning the senseless loss of a man who put his life on the line to save others.
Khavin said Dan saved his life when he fell into a fire pit.
"I had slipped and fell when I was putting a log in," he said. "I owe that man the world. He introduced me to my lovely girlfriend."
"Of all people, why Dan?" Smith asked.
According to his friends, Dan wasn't even supposed to be working Monday night. He came in after another worker was involved in a car accident.
"So he gave up his New Year's Eve to come into work and make sure everyone else was safe," Smith said.
