ShotSpotter Technology Leads to Arrests of Two Shooting Suspects in South Sacramento

May 11, 2018 |

A new technology that has been in service for a by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department led to the arrest of two suspects.

The two suspects arrested were Meay Poo Saechao (above right), 40, and Derick Lamar Paradise (above left), 46 both of Sacramento were apprehended after new ShotSpotter devices were used to help identify and locate them.

The events that led to their arrest started on Thursday, May 10 just after 6 p.m. when the ShotSpotter activations in south Sacramento were activated. Calls to the sheriff's dispatch center also reported shots being fired in the same area.

The acoustic technology is said to be able to locate a gunshot fired within a particular area and allow for a quick police response. Gunshots produce unique "noise signature," which the system is able to distinguish from similar sounds such as firecrackers, bottle rockets and car backfires, according to news releases issued by the two departments.

Deputies responded to the area and began speaking with witnesses in the neighborhood, collecting evidence, and processing the scene but did not locate any victims. During the preliminary investigation, deputies were able to obtain a description of the possible suspects.

Later in the evening, at 8:20 p.m. Sheriff’s Department Gang Detectives were patrolling the area of 35th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard when they spotted a vehicle, which matched the description from the earlier incidents. The detectives and additional personnel from the Sheriff’s Departments Central Division initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the Paradise and Saechao.

A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded 12 gauge, pump-action shotgun, and a semi-automatic 9mm handgun; neither firearms were registered to Paradise or Saechao. Both suspects were taken into custody with Paradise scheduled for arraignment on Monday, May 14.