Friends Mourning Sac City College Victim Say He Was Trying To Better His Life

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – There was a vigil at Sac City College on Friday where friends of victim, 25-year-old Roman Gonzalez, say he was a father of two and had finally decided to start higher education and better his life.

"He was like, the most caring person I really know," said Joyce Jimenez.

Friends and loved ones gathered at the spot where Gonzalez, a student at Sacramento City College, was gunned down on campus.

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"We still have our homicide detectives actively investigating the case, we are not ruling out any possibility of gang activity being involved," said Sacramento Police Department spokesperson Traci Trapani.

Police continue to search for the shooter, giving few details about what led up to the fight, that also left two injured. Officials say it appears four men, including the victim, were involved in an argument that escalated quickly.

While they search for the gunman, officers have placed 24-year-old Rico Ridgeway under arrest, accusing him of pulling out a knife during the incident. Police announced Friday night he has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and has placed on a parole hold. Those who knew him say he was friends with Gonzalez and tried to revive Gonzalez after he was shot.

"We are a community that supports each other and that is why we are out here today," said Sacramento City President Kathryn Jeffery.

RELATED: Sacramento City College Shootings Casts Somber, Uneasy Feeling Over Campus

Jeffery addressed a crowd of students who gathered to mourn and get more information. Los Rios Police Chief Cheryl Sears assured students this was an isolated incident.

"Sacramento City College is a very safe campus; we have a very few major incidents," said Sears.

There have been some questions from students about when they were notified about the shooting. Many say they did not receive a text message instructing them to shelter in place until 4:41 p.m. The shooting happened just before four.

Derek: "Somewhere around 4:40 this text message came in, we're told by Sac PD that the shooting happened a few minutes before four.  I mean that's 40 minutes."

Jeffery: "We sent it out earlier than that.

Derek: "When did you send it out, do you know?"

Jeffery : We sent it out around 4:17, that is the message I remember seeing go out."

While students say that wasn't the case, Jeffery admits there is room for improvement.

Back at the spot where the shooting happened those who lost a loved one want the killer to come forward.

"He should turn himself in. He took someone's life, he took a father, he took a son, he took friend -- just somebody who is very important to everybody," said Jimenez.

Police said: the shooting suspect is believed to have fled the scene and is described as a male adult Pacific Islander wearing a white t-shirt and beige cargo shorts. Most of the incident was caught on surveillance tape. Detectives are reviewing the footage.