A home invasion turned fatal in the 4900 block of Little Oak Lane in Sacramento County, just a five minute walk from the American River Campus, Tuesday night.

Deputies were called to the area around 10:30 last night, when witnesses said they heard gunshots and saw two suspects fleeing, carrying items from inside the victim’s residence, according to the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department media release.

When deputies responded they found a 30-year-old man shot dead inside the home.

Crime in the Little Oak area is not uncommon. According to information provided by crime reports through the Sheriff’s office, there were four burglaries and one aggravated assault on the same block last month alone.

“One thing I do want to say is that when I do hear gunshots, no one calls. No one does anything,” said Little Oak Lane resident Desiree Treml. “I didn’t even know there was a shooting last night.”

“We did see the police and helicopters in our area, but I didn’t see anything,” said Little Oak resident Sean Cox. “It was about 10:30 or 10:45. I had just gotten out of school (at Heald College) and on my way home. I passed by the Sheriff, but didn’t see what happened.”

The shooting took place just half an hour after some ARC evening classes were released, but even students who don’t have night classes are taken aback by the recent seeming increase in violent crime.

“It’s worrisome that so much is happening,” said Crystal Piper, an art major. “I don’t have any night classes right now and I don’t live in the area, but it is very ominous. It’s kind of a bad feeling. It can happen to anybody.”

Because the shooting happened late last night, many students are coming to campus this morning not aware of the incident, and do not seem affected by it.

“I don’t feel any less safe knowing this,” said Gwendolyn Peterson, psychology major.

“I used to live in Fresno and it was worse. It got better when I moved up here,” she said in regard to the level of violence in the area.

“It’s not something I really consider, my safety,” said Christian Fox, undeclared. “It’s really (expletive) that we couldn’t prevent it, but it doesn’t affect me personally.”

“I just think everyone should be responsible for their own safety,” Fox said.

Jeremy Wann, design technology major, had a simple suggestion for increasing safety on and around campus.

“Sometimes I might think there needs to be a more secure environment,” he said. “The bigger schools have cameras.” Wann suggested more cameras in the area would deter crime and help to catch offenders.

Deputies are looking for two suspects.

Anyone with information on the shooting is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (916) 874-5115 or by leaving an anonymous tip at www.sacsheriff.com and entering the keyword ‘SSD’, by texting 274637 (CRIMES) or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).

Check back with the Current for more information as the story develops.