Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Press Release Re: Christopher Gilmore Shooting
At approximately 8:15 AM on Saturday, March 23, 2024, Deputies responded to a residence on the 6500 block of Campanile Street in Rio Linda for a suicidal subject. The caller reported that her brother, later identified as 38-year-old Christopher Gilmore, had schizophrenia, was armed with a knife, and was cutting himself in a bathroom. Prior to Deputies arriving on scene, all family members had exited the residence, and Gilmore was inside by himself. The Sacramento Metro Fire Department staged nearby until Deputies could arrive.
When Deputies arrived, they attempted to call him outside the residence, but he refused. Per one of Gilmore’s roommates, Gilmore made statements that he wanted to die by “suicide by cop.” Deputies learned Gilmore was on probation and had just been arrested six days earlier (March 17, 2024) by another agency for PC 69 (violently resisting an officer) and other charges, including vandalism, DUI, and drug charges. The courts had since released him on his own recognizance as a pre-trial release.
Gilmore then unexpectedly opened the garage while holding a knife. Deputies backed away toward the sidewalk and street while directing him to drop the knife and exit toward them. Gilmore refused as Deputies continued to attempt to give him directives.
After several minutes into this interaction, Gilmore exited the garage while still holding the knife and began advancing toward Deputies. One Deputy deployed multiple less lethal shotgun rounds at Gilmore to try and stop and disarm him, but they were ineffective. Despite multiple directives to stop and being hit with multiple less lethal rounds, Gilmore continued to advance and came within just several feet of a Deputy while still holding the knife before the Deputy shot him with his service weapon.
Deputies administered first aid on the scene, including applying tourniquets and a chest seal until fire personnel arrived. Unfortunately, Gilmore was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation into this incident is still ongoing and will be conducted by the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Professional Standards Division.