Sacramento Man Arrested Following Homicide Investigation

Diego Kona Kekhuna, a 19-year-old resident of Sacramento, California, was arrested in Elk Grove yesterday morning by detectives with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) Violent Crimes Investigations Team (VCI) following an investigation into the shooting homicide of a 20-year-old man in the City of Santa Rosa on May 13, 2024. The investigation into this incident is still ongoing, and additional updates may be issued as information becomes available, however, below is a summary of the initial incident and subsequent investigation.

On Monday, May 13, 2024, at approximately 9:09 p.m., numerous area residents called 911 to report hearing multiple gunshots coming from Slater Street. SRPD officers arrived within minutes and located a 20-year-old male gunshot victim on the east sidewalk of the 700 block of Slater Street. The first officer at the scene accessed the victim’s injuries and pronounced him deceased. The victim’s injuries were too significant for lifesaving measures to be successful.

During the preliminary investigation, it was learned Kekhuna arrived at a female acquaintance’s home uninvited and instigated an argument in front of the residence. The male victim exited the same residence and was shot multiple times in the chest by Kekhuna as he walked toward Kekhuna and the female. Kekhuna then hid the firearm in the wheel well of a parked truck and ran from the scene, north on Slater Street. The firearm was recovered at the scene by detectives.

VCI detectives responded to the scene and immediately began their investigation. Based on information learned throughout the night, they believed Kekhuna was the sole shooter and was hiding at a family member’s home in Elk Grove. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Kekhuna and a search warrant for a residence in the 9400 block of Ranch Park Way, Elk Grove. At approximately 9:00 a.m. on May 14, VCI detectives with the assistance of Elk Grove Police Department SWAT, served both the search and arrest warrants at the residence. Kekhuna was taken into custody without incident. 

Kekhuna was transported by SRPD officers from Elk Grove to Santa Rosa and booked into Sonoma County Jail for the following offense:

187 PC - Murder

SRPD VCI detectives are continuing to investigate this case. More information may be released as it becomes available. The name and city of residence of the victim will not be released until official identification has been determined by the Coroner and Next of Kin notifications have been made. 

If you have information related to this incident, you are encouraged to call the SRPD VCI Tip Line at 707-543-3590.

We would like to offer our sincerest thanks to the Elk Grove Police Department for their support during this investigation.

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 24-5751.

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.