Saraiah Acosta: 'Cheerful' California girl, 18, stabbed numerous times before being run over by 22-yr-old on-again, off-again BF
RANCHO CORDOVA, CALIFORNIA: A family was left devastated after a teenage girl was reportedly killed by a man with whom she was in an on-again, off-again relationship. Saraiah Acosta reportedly died on February 1 after 22-year-old Devian Lewis stabbed her and mowed her down with a vehicle.
The 18-year-old was found with several stab injuries when officers from the Rancho Cordova Police Department arrived at an address on Ramsgate Way in the City of Rancho Cordova after getting a call. Despite their efforts, Acosta could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene, The Sun reported.
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In a media release, the Rancho Cordova Police Department and Sacramento County Sheriff's Office stated, “Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene a short time later, interviewed witnesses, and gathered evidence. Based on their investigation, homicide detectives identified the suspect as 22-year-old Devian LEWIS.”
Suspect arrested after a chase
The suspect was caught after the California Highway Patrol (CHP) along with other officers chased him “through Sacramento southbound on Highway 99”. The release noted, “During the pursuit, deputies learned LEWIS was armed. LEWIS exited westbound on Cosumnes River Boulevard and eventually made his way into Elk Grove when the Elk Grove Police Department joined in to assist as well. The pursuit came to an end in the City of Elk Grove, where an officer-involved shooting took place during his apprehension.”
Lewis is currently said to be in a hospital after being shot. Charges against him have not been revealed yet. “The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is the primary investigating agency for the homicide which occurred in Rancho Cordova. The Elk Grove Police Department and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office will be investigating the officer-involved shooting, as it occurred within the city limits of Elk Grove,” the press release added.
‘Everybody wanted to be around her’
Acosta’s grieving family remembers her as a “cheerful, sassy person”. Her aunt, Angela Martinez, told ABC10, “Always fun. Everybody wanted to be around her because she was the one that danced and she lived life. It was a feeling that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. She was my baby before I even had babies. This definitely took a piece of all of us,” before sharing, I was there the day she was born and been there ever since. It's definitely going to be hard.”
Martinez added, “Anytime you're around her, you can't be sad, you can't be mad because she's just this jumpy, little cheerful, sassy person, because we can't leave out the sassy part. You put on R. Kelly, and that girl was dancing. You put on oldies, and she was singing. She was the life of the party.”
Family asks for financial help
A GoFundMe has been launched to help Acosta’s family. The fundraiser read, “On February 1, 2023 our beautiful Saraiah was tragically taken from us. While we all grieve the loss of her, we are asking for any assistance and/or donations to help us lay our beautiful angel to rest and to also help the family with expenses they will incur as they begin their lengthy journey with the grieving process.”
“At this time we ask for privacy while the family grieves the sudden loss of Saraiah. Any assistance and support and all the prayers possible are greatly appreciated. Once funeral arrangements are finalized we will update everyone,” it concluded.