De’Jon Sledge, known as DayDay, was a 16-year-old Black male from Sacramento who was killed on April 10, 2026, when gunfire erupted on the Natomas High School campus on Fong Ranch Road just after classes let out. Family identified him as the teen who died and said he was a student at nearby Discovery High School; a family friend and his mother described him as caring and determined to walk the right path and pushed back against rumors of gang ties. The scene prompted panic among students and a heavy police response.

Early police statements identified a person of interest and confirmed a 16-year-old had been arrested by April 14. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office later said De’Jon and another person entered the Natomas campus seeking a specific student; prosecutors allege De’Jon wore a ski mask and carried a handgun and that the targeted student, who was armed, shot De’Jon.

The shooting prompted increased safety measures at Natomas Unified, added police support, and community counseling and de-escalation efforts. The case left the school community shaken and De’Jon’s family grieving. If anyone knew De’Jon or saw events at the Natomas campus that afternoon, please share what you know.