Michael Ray Berry Obituary, Death – A 16-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed last week at a Sacramento bus stop has been identified as Michael Ray Berry of Fair Oaks, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
The incident occurred Thursday night at the SacRT bus stop located at 10191 Mills Station Road. Authorities said Berry was stabbed during a confrontation with a Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) employee and later died from his injuries at the hospital.
According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the altercation began when Berry and a girl believed to be his girlfriend, both minors, were allegedly vaping on a bus. A SacRT ambassador, who acts as a transit security presence, told the teens to stop.
The two were either escorted off or voluntarily exited the bus at the Mills Station Road stop. A physical fight reportedly broke out between the ambassador and the two teens, during which Berry was stabbed.
SacRT ambassadors are not sworn officers but are trained to assist riders with fare payments, provide information, and help ensure safety on the transit system. They are instructed in de-escalation techniques and customer service but are not authorized to carry weapons.
However, deputies confirmed that a knife was recovered at the scene. The sheriff’s office emphasized that SacRT ambassadors are prohibited from carrying knives while on duty. In an email to ABC10, SacRT stated they are still gathering details but reaffirmed that ambassadors are not permitted to be armed.
SacRT also claimed their preliminary investigation indicates that the ambassador was physically attacked by the teens after they were removed from the bus, and the stabbing may have occurred in self-defense.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Rancho Cordova Police Department and Sacramento Regional Transit Police, are now leading the investigation. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office responded to the stabbing after receiving multiple 911 calls. Neither sheriff’s deputies nor Sacramento police were present during the initial incident.
As of Friday morning, the SacRT employee involved in the stabbing had been detained at the scene but not formally arrested. Investigators will continue reviewing the circumstances of the case before submitting their findings to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether criminal charges are warranted.
SacRT issued a statement following the incident, emphasizing that the safety of both its riders and employees is a top priority. The agency also reiterated its commitment to fully cooperate with the investigation.
ABC10 has contacted both the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office for additional updates. More details are expected to emerge as authorities complete their review of the incident, including the role of the employee and whether use of force was justified.