Sacramento police arrest 3 from Bay Area after deadly cannabis warehouse burglary
By Brandon Downs
Three suspects from the Bay Area have been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting during a burglary at a Sacramento cannabis warehouse in May, police said on Thursday.
In the early-morning hours of May 8, Sacramento police said they responded to a burglary in progress at a warehouse along Thys Court, off Florin Perkins Road.
At the scene, officers found two people, identified as burglary suspects, had been shot. One suspect died at the scene and the other was taken to the hospital, where they were listed at the time in critical but stable condition.
Police said the security guard shot the suspects and cooperated with the investigation. But police said they arrested the security guard, who they identified as 55-year-old Joseph Mills, for voluntary manslaughter and on weapons-related charges.
Mills is scheduled to be in court for a mandatory settlement conference hearing on July 21.
Mills’ lawyer, Allen Sawyer, said in a statement on Thursday that he was acting in self-defense after masked intruders broke into the business.
“Based on these facts, we urge the authorities to reevaluate Mr. [Mills] case,” Sawyer said. “He acted to defend his life and the lives of his colleagues and should not be facing charges.”
In an update on Thursday, police said they served search warrants in Oakland and Vallejo at the beginning of July. Police said they arrested 20-year-old Carmello Madden and 19-year-old Darryl McQuillion III of Oakland. They also arrested 21-year-old Jermaj Nelson of Vallejo, who turned himself in.
Surveillance video showed alleged burglars jumping over a fence and driving off.
During the search warrants, police said they located five illegally possessed guns, including one that was reported stolen, two that were privately manufactured and one illegal assault rifle.
