by Sacramento, California — The City of Sacramento has agreed to pay $160,000 to settle a civil lawsuit stemming from the fatal police shooting of a man armed with a knife on a light rail train in 2023, closing a legal chapter in a case that raised renewed questions about police responses to mental health crises.
The settlement follows the death of Dante Dwaine Day, 44, who was shot by officers during a tense confrontation aboard a Blue Line train near Sacramento City College.
Deadly encounter unfolded during afternoon commute
The incident occurred on the afternoon of August 15, 2023, when multiple 911 callers reported a man moving through a light rail train while waving what they described as a “machete-type knife” nearly the length of his arm.
According to police, the train had stopped at the Sacramento City College station after passengers fled in fear. Officers arriving on scene found Day sitting alone on the train, wearing a red shirt and holding the blade.
Body camera footage later released by the department shows officers repeatedly ordering Day to drop the weapon as they attempted to gain control of the situation.
Bodycam video captures fear and distress
In the footage, Day can be heard expressing fear toward the officers and pleading with them.
“I’m scared of you all, bro,” Day said. “Please, please, please, sir. Please, I know you all got to do your job, but I’m scared of you all right now.”
Police said officers attempted to de-escalate the situation verbally before deploying a less-lethal bean bag shotgun. When that tactic failed, the confrontation escalated rapidly.
Use of force escalated after less-lethal attempt
According to investigative records and the civil lawsuit, officers fired bean bag rounds at Day in an effort to subdue him. Video shows that instead of stopping, Day moved toward officers with the knife still in his hand.
At that point, one officer fired lethal rounds, striking Day. He later died from his injuries at the scene.
No other passengers or officers were physically harmed during the encounter.
Lawsuit alleged failures in mental health response
The civil lawsuit was filed by civil rights attorney John Burris on behalf of Day’s father. The suit argued that Day was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and that officers failed to take appropriate steps to address that condition.
The complaint alleged that police did not request a crisis intervention specialist and relied too quickly on force rather than tailored de-escalation strategies.
“Mr. Day’s behavior towards the officers signified that he was not of sound mind,” the lawsuit stated. “Neither officer called for a crisis interventionist, nor made an attempt to respond appropriately to Day’s state of distress.”
The filing acknowledged that Day boarded the train with a knife but emphasized that he did not threaten or injure anyone prior to police contact.
District Attorney cleared officers of criminal wrongdoing
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office conducted a separate review of the shooting and ultimately cleared the officers of any criminal liability.
In a letter released in December 2024, prosecutors concluded that the use of deadly force was legally justified.
“Both officers reasonably feared for their safety and the safety of other officers,” the letter stated. “Under these circumstances, the decision to use deadly force was justified.”
The district attorney’s office also noted that Day had been previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, a factor cited in both the civil lawsuit and investigative findings.
Why the city settled despite legal clearance
Even though prosecutors ruled the shooting lawful, Sacramento officials chose to resolve the civil lawsuit through a settlement rather than proceed to trial.
The $160,000 payment does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing by the city or its police department. Legal experts say such settlements are often pursued to limit litigation costs, reduce risk, and bring closure to families involved.
City officials have not publicly commented in detail on the reasoning behind the settlement.
Case reignites debate over policing and mental illness
The case has reignited public discussion about how law enforcement handles encounters involving individuals experiencing mental health emergencies, particularly in confined public spaces like trains and buses.
Advocates argue that better access to crisis intervention teams and mental health professionals could reduce the likelihood of fatal outcomes. Police departments counter that officers often face split-second decisions when weapons are involved.
While Sacramento has expanded crisis response resources in recent years, the Day case highlights the challenges officers face when balancing public safety with de-escalation efforts.
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Family reaction and broader impact
Day’s family has maintained that his death could have been prevented with a different approach. The settlement brings financial compensation but does not resolve broader concerns about systemic practices.
The incident remains a reference point in ongoing discussions about:
- Police use of force
- Mental health crisis response
- Training and deployment of non-lethal alternatives
As cities nationwide continue to evaluate policing policies, the Sacramento settlement underscores how legal clearance does not always end civil accountability.
Do you believe police departments should be required to involve mental health crisis specialists in situations like this? Share your thoughts in the comments.
