Global Courant 2023-04-16 01:45:13
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP) — The suspect in a shooting in Northern California last week was wearing a body armor when he took two hostages at a public park, killed one, wounded the other and opened fire on California Highway Patrol officers, authorities said.
CHP officers approached suspect Eric Abril on April 6 near Mahany Park in Roseville, northeast of Sacramento, authorities said. He was wanted for questioning in connection with a shooting on the highway.
But the situation turned violent. The officers confronted Abril — at a park where nearby families played baseball fields and children went to camp — and he took two hostages in response and opened fire, sparking a shootout that turned deadly, authorities said.
Investigators are “convinced” that Abril fatally shot James MacEgan and wounded his wife, Patricia MacEgan, according to Roseville police and court documents filed by the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the indictment filed against Abril, Officer Matthew Hiatt was also injured in the shooting. The Sacramento Bee reported.
The officers had search warrants for Abril’s home and vehicle, but no arrest warrant to take him into custody. Why they approached him in such a public space, despite a long criminal record, has not been made public and Officer Ricardo Ortiz, a CHP spokesman, declined to release additional details on the situation on Saturday.
Prosecutors say Abril had a 10mm handgun in his possession during the confrontation last week and was wearing the body armor when officers approached him, according to The Sacramento Bee. The Placer County district attorney’s office did not respond to The Associated Press’s request for comment.
Abril is charged with murder, aggravated kidnapping causing bodily harm, attempted murder of a peace officer and a convicted felon in possession of a weapon, the newspaper reported.
Abril remains in jail without the option of posting bail and his arraignment was postponed until Tuesday. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
According to the Roseville Police Department, Abril fired 15 to 20 rounds at the CHP officers and the MacEgans during the gunfight. CHP officers fired 15 to 25 rounds and Roseville officers fired six bullets in response.
Abril was hit once in his left arm, but it was not clear whose bullet hit him, police said.
