Suspect Arrested In Connection With Killing Of Teen Near Fair Oaks Park

FAIR OAKS (CBS13) - A suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a teenager near Bannister Park in Sacramento Friday night.

Just before 10 p.m. deputies received reports of a shooting, and when they arrived at the scene, found a 19-year-old male who had been shot about 250 yards south of the river access and bike trail, outside of the park.

Elijah Ray Lambert, 21, of Sacramento, was later arrested by detectives and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on a charge of homicide.

Detectives say the shooting was unintentional, that Lambert and the victim knew each other and were hanging out together with a group of people at the time.

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The victim's identity will be released by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office pending notification to next of kin.

Deputies say large groups tend to gather here late at night and they get complaints. But people we talked with who use this park in the day say this latest incident isn't going to stop them from coming here.

"I guess after dark it's not always the safest, of course, but out in the daylight we've never had any concerns," said Andrew Scott, a Fair Oaks resident.

When deputies initially questioned people last night who were with the suspect, they reported the incident had stemmed from a shooting -- something detectives later determined to be false.

Lambert's first court appearance is scheduled for on May 27, 2015. Detectives believe Lambert was the only one involved in the shooting.