A Sacramento jury on May 1 convicted Quentin Respers of second-degree murder and of being a felon in possession of a firearm in the 2022 slaying of Abrina Abraham at the 49er Travel Plaza in Natomas. Jurors also found true an allegation that Respers personally used a firearm, a finding that increases his potential prison time. Respers is scheduled to be sentenced June 26, 2026.
What prosecutors say
According to Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, the verdict followed evidence that Respers and Abraham had a prior romantic relationship and arranged to meet at the 49er truck stop on June 24, 2022. Prosecutors say that after a brief verbal exchange, Respers pulled a gun from his waistband and fired two shots at Abraham. The confrontation was captured on surveillance video, and the firearm used in the killing was never recovered. The DA’s office said Principal Criminal Attorneys Hilary Davisson and Andrea Morris of the Homicide Unit tried the case.
As reported by FOX40, the conviction capped roughly four years of investigation and court proceedings following the 2022 shooting. FOX40 also reported that Respers fled the scene and was later apprehended by sheriff’s deputies, and that he faces a maximum sentence of 43 years to life, with sentencing set for June 26.
Backstory
The shooting unfolded in the early-morning hours of June 24, 2022, when deputies were called to a report of a person shot inside the convenience store at the 49er Travel Plaza on the 2800 block of El Centro Road. The victim, 38-year-old Abrina Gabriella Abraham, was later pronounced dead, earlier coverage shows. Initial reporting by KCRA said investigators believed the suspect worked at the travel plaza and that Respers was known to law enforcement and on probation at the time. Those early details helped shape the charges that ultimately went before a jury.
Court timeline and penalties
According to FOX40, Respers faces a maximum possible sentence of 43 years to life and is due to be sentenced June 26 at 1:30 p.m. in Department PB before the Honorable Shelleyanne W. L. Chang. In its public statement, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office noted that the jury’s findings on the felon-in-possession count and the firearm-use enhancement both trigger mandatory additional penalties under state law. Respers remains in custody while he awaits sentencing.
Where this fits in local efforts
The case is playing out as Sacramento pours more resources into violence-prevention work. In March, the city landed a $5 million CalVIP award to expand rapid-response teams, street outreach and youth case management, according to The Sacramento Observer. City and county leaders have said that combining aggressive prosecution with stronger prevention programs and victim services is central to a broader strategy to reduce shootings…