Private security guard Gregory Gass will not be charged in the Monday death of 19-year old Joshua Grosshans, said Sacramento Police Sgt. Matthew Young.

Young said the incident, in which Gass shot Grosshans with one round at the Riverbridge Apartment Complex on University Avenue near Howe Avenue, was out of self-defense.

“All of the evidence we have indicates that (Gass) acted out of fear for his own safety,” Young said.

Young said the incident began when Gass approached Grosshans and two other young men who were gathered around a vehicle at the Riverbridge Apartment Complex early Monday morning.

“(Gass) approached the men after he suspected them of trying to burglarize or possibly even steal the vehicle,” Young said.

Gass, who works for Wise Security, could not be reached for comment.

Young said the three men jumped into their black Honda and drove toward Gass intending to harm him. He said Gass pulled his weapon and fired into the windshield.

The bullet hit Grosshans, who had been driving, according to a Sacramento Police Department press release. He was rushed to the UC Davis Medical Center and pronounced dead a short time later.

Young said Grosshans accomplices George Cardenas and Patrick Goodman, both 19, have been arrested on suspicion of burglary. Monday’s incident bumps the total number of homicides that have occurred in Sacramento since January 1, 2007 up to around 15.

Young said Grosshans was not a student at Sacramento State.

About 90 percent of the Riverbridge tenants are students, said apartment manager Chuck Lash.