Woman fatally shot in Sacramento Panera parking lot; suspect later dies after standoff
A woman was killed in a shooting at a Sacramento Panera Bread parking lot, and the suspect later died of a self-inflicted gunshot after a police standoff on Highway 50.
A woman was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Panera Bread on Howe Avenue in Sacramento on Tuesday, authorities said. The incident occurred at about 3 p.m., and witnesses reported that the shooter chased the victim before firing multiple shots, executing her in front of onlookers.
Sheriff's Lt. Amar Gandhi said the suspect fled the scene and was later spotted near Highway 50 and Watt Avenue, where deputies attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver halted on the freeway and refused to exit, leading to a standoff. The suspect subsequently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Fire crews pronounced the woman dead at the scene. Police identified the suspect's vehicle using license-plate data shared by witnesses, which allowed deputies to locate it quickly. It remains unclear whether the victim and the shooter knew each other or whether she was a customer or employee of the restaurant.