A criminal complaint has been unsealed charging Joseph Allen Davis, 19, of Sacramento, with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez.
According to court documents, police began investigating Davis after identifying him as the shooter in an incident on April 12, 2025, at Rainbow City Park in Davis, California. Three people were injured by gunfire during the event. Law enforcement searched Davis’s apartment and found a short-barrel AR-15-style pistol. Due to a previous conviction for a felon gun possession offense, Davis is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition.
The investigation involved several agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the case with help from the Davis Police Department, Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, and Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting.
If convicted, Davis could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing would be determined by the court based on statutory factors and federal guidelines that consider various elements of the case. The charges are allegations; Davis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative using resources from the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration issues and combat violent crime by targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations through programs like OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The case also falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates law enforcement efforts at all levels with community partners to reduce violent crime and gun violence across neighborhoods nationwide. In May 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN focusing on building trust within communities, supporting prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and tracking results through measurable outcomes (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-launches-violent-crime-reduction-strategy-strengthen-project-safe).
“
