Man who ambushed, executed Sacramento librarian convicted of 1st-Degree Murder

Senseless killing led family into gun violence prevention work

The deranged stalker who left Natomas in fear, Sacramento’s libraries in shock and a family in profound mourning, was just convicted of 1st-Degree murder, despite his earlier attempts to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

Ronald Seay, 58, has a history of mental illness, as well as causing havoc in public areas and tangling with police officers. However, court-appointed doctors ultimately determined Seay knew what he was doing when laid a deadly trap for 41-year-old Amber Clark as she was leaving the North Natomas Library.

The two weren’t entirely strangers. They’d had a run-in weeks before on October 13, 2018. Seay had been causing a scene at the library. Clark was the supervisor present when police arrived to deal with the unruly man.

At some point, Clark issued Seay a no-trespass order to keep him away from the library’s staff and patrons. Seay tried to appeal it but got nowhere. Then, he set his sights on revenge.

Prosecutors charged Seay with a special allegation of lying in wait because he essentially hunted Clark.

On Dec. 11, 2018, Seay carefully parked his car so that he could monitor the door of the Natomas library. He sat and waited for Clark. Detectives say he watched her get off her shift and stroll past his vehicle. Climbing out, he began to follow her. Clark was settling into her car when Seay pulled its door open. He shot her 11 times at nearly point-blank range with a 9 mm.

Clark died at the scene.

Last week, a jury found Seay guilty of first-degree murder with special circumstances. The case had been tried by veteran homicide prosecutor Allison Dunham. Seay faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

While waiting several years for that verdict, Clark’s husband, Kelly Clark, became involved in the movement to prevent gun violence. He’s now a volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action and a member of the Everytown Survivor Network.

“It’s been three years of an empty seat at our table, of heartbreaking absence, of a life stolen from us,” Kelly Clark wrote in a guest commentary for SN&R. “After Amber was murdered, we started to learn about the shooter who took her from us. We heard about his long history of mental health issues, threatening behavior at public libraries, and encounters with law enforcement in both California and Missouri. But because of an obscure, gun lobby-drafted federal law, we’ve never been able to find out the answer to the most important question: how did this man get a gun in the first place?”

Kelly Clark has been advocating to repeal the federal law known, which is known as the Tiahrt Amendment.

As far as describing his wife, he wrote that Clark was a life-long crusader for youth literacy and the plight of the disabled.

Peter Coyl, director for the city’s library services, agreed with that assessment. Coyl told SN&R this week that Amber Clark’s contributions will not be forgotten.

“Amber was a beloved member our team and our hearts go out to her family,” Coyl said. “Amber really impacted the library by advocating for teens and accessibility for the disabled, and we will continue that work in ways that will honor her memory.”

Our content is free, but not free to produce

If you value our local news, arts and entertainment coverage, become an SN&R supporter with a one-time or recurring donation. Help us keep our reporters at work, bringing you the stories that need to be told.

Newsletter

Stay Updated

For the latest local news, arts and entertainment, sign up for our newsletter.
We'll tell you the story behind the story.

1 Comment on "Man who ambushed, executed Sacramento librarian convicted of 1st-Degree Murder"

  1. Colleen Whalen | April 29, 2022 at 4:06 pm | Reply

    Why did it take THREE YEARS for the verdict of guilty of murder and “lying in wait” Why wasn’t this immediately plea bargained and the murderer sent to prison for a very long term – at least 30 years without parole? He was denied bail (thank god!) and was in the local county jail for several years while this case slogged along. Please don’t use covid as an excuse. I certainly do not want to see anyone “rail roaded” without due process, but there were witnesses, the murderer violated a restraining order and his car was parked at the scene of the murder. Why was this man who was identified many years ago as severely mentally ill and had previous altercations with police ALLOWED TO HAVE A GUN? I have heard that allegedly California has the “strictest gun laws in the USA”. I find this very difficult to believe. IF we had better gun control laws that actually were effective to ban severely mentally ill people from gun ownership, Amber Clark would be ALIVE. The 10th & K murder rampage was not an isolated incident because in Sacramento there are gun murders every week on a chronic basis

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*