A 24-year-old Guatemalan man gunned down and killed in Stockton was identified as Miguel Tambriz Sohom, the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner’s Office said Tuesday.
Tambriz Sohom was shot on Aug. 28 in the 100 Block of South Sierra Nevada Street near his home.
The Stockton Police Department said officers were called to the scene at 11:06 p.m. on a report of a person shot. At the scene, they found Tambriz Sohom suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was taken to a hospital and died from his injuries, police said.
Following the deadly shooting, a vase of colored flowers were placed at the scene along with four candles and a Modelo beer can.
Longtime Stockton farmworker and immigrant rights activist Luis Magaña said Tambriz Sohom was a husband and a father
to a 4-year-old girl. He said Tambriz Sohom was working as a farmworker in the cabbage fields.
Magaña said that on Sunday, Aug. 30, loved ones of the man killed gathered together for a meal. Many of the people who came traveled from different cities such as Lake Tahoe. Many who attended the meal were Guatemalan, Magaña said.
“They are like a tribe … I was surprised to see so many families — but they really stuck to their traditions,” Magaña said in Spanish.
Magaña said people he spoke to called the area where Tambriz Sohom was shot dangerous, with some saying they don’t go out at nighttime.
According to Magaña, Tambriz Sohom was killed during an attempted robbery. He said he spoke to the wife of Tambriz Sohom and others who saw what took place when the shooting happened.
Magaña said Tambriz Sohom was on the side of his home with another person when they were approached by three men dressed in dark clothes and masks.
“What strikes me as odd is that two of them had weapons like AR-15 rifles. I’ve heard of robberies involving knives or handguns — things that don't draw as much attention — but the fact that they were carrying large rifles while walking... that’s what I found most strange,” he said in Spanish.
When asked if the homicide was part of a robbery the Stockton Police Department said the motive of the shooting is still being investigated meaning it could not confirm the robbery at this time.
The department said the investigation into the homicide remains ongoing and detectives are still conducting follow ups.
Tambriz Sohom’s death marked this year's 20th homicide compared to 26 homicides at the same time last year.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8377 or submit an anonymous tip through Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Victim of deadly Stockton shooting identified as Guatemalan man, 24
