2 deputies killed in NorCal shooting spree; gunman in custody

ByHanna Chu and Coleen Sullivan KABC logo
Saturday, October 25, 2014
2 deputies killed in NorCal shooting spree; gunman in custody
Two deputies have died after a shooting spree that spanned 30 miles through two Northern California counties. The gunman is in custody.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KABC) -- Two deputies have died after a shooting spree that spanned 30 miles through two Northern California counties. The gunman is in custody.

Placer County Sheriff's spokeswoman Dena Erwin says 34-year-old Marcelo Marquez was taken alive Friday afternoon.

The incident began around 10:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Arden Way in Sacramento near a Motel 6. Deputy Danny Oliver and his partner responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. When they were heading to the car, the suspect opened fire.

"The person inside the vehicle fired several rounds at Officer Danny Oliver. At least one of those rounds struck Deputy Oliver in the forehead," said Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones.

The deputy was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. Oliver was a 15-year veteran who leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

The suspect drove off and attempted to carjack someone, but when the driver refused to give up the keys, the suspect shot that person in the head.

Law enforcement officers dressed in tactical gear leave the Gold County Fairgrounds to help in the search of an assailant, in Auburn, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.
Law enforcement officers dressed in tactical gear leave the Gold County Fairgrounds to help in the search of an assailant, in Auburn, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.
AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

The suspect then carjacked at least two vehicles before heading to the Auburn area.

About an hour later, two Placer County sheriff's deputies were shot after an encounter with the suspect. One of those deputies have died. The second deputy was shot in the arm and was expected to survive.

Police say the assailant was accompanied by a woman, who was taken into custody earlier in Placer County. Authorities say she had a handgun in her purse.

Deputies searched for the armed suspect along a steep, tree-lined river canyon in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Auburn. He was finally located and arrested a home in Auburn.

KGTV reports that five schools in the Auburn Unified School District were locked down during the manhunt.

A motive remains unknown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.