Man Shot By Deputies In Placer County After Alleged Rampage, Arson Fires, Killing of Woman

A man who was considered armed and dangerous was fatally shot by Placer County sheriff's deputies Monday morning following a 20-hour manhunt that ended just outside the unincorporated town of Iowa Hill.

An alleged rampage began on Sunday morning that prompted the manhunt for 44-year-old Derek Spencer. Spencer was allegedly pointing a firearm at multiple people in the Colfax area around 10:30 am Sunday, and was then confronted by Placer County sheriff's deputies. Spencer then reportedly rammed the deputies' vehicle as he escaped in a stolen vehicle, hitting it with enough force to disable it, and he got away in the direction of Iowa Hill.

As he was fleeing from authorities, the sheriff's office says that Spencer entered the home of a woman he did not know, 76-year-old Cheryl Macy. Investigators believe that "Spencer murdered the woman before fleeing into the surrounding forest," prior to his being found by authorities.

Hours later, Spencer was reportedly located with the help of infrared technology from a California Highway Patrol aircraft. Tactical teams then reached Spencer's location and were allegedly fired upon in the early hours of Monday.

"At 4 am the suspect once again fired shots toward deputies from a berm he was hiding behind, deputies returned fire ultimately striking and killing the suspect," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.

Spencer had apparently been on something of a crime spree. According to the sheriff's office, he had been arrested three times this month alone, first on September 3 by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office on suspicion of felony vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, and resisting arrest. He was released on bond on September 11, and arrested again on suspicion of burglary by the Folsom Police Department on September 13, and again released. Sacramento County sheriff's deputies arrested him again on the 15th for allegedly stealing a car, and after his release on the 16th, he allegedly stole another car and guns on Saturday, September 19, and shot at a moving vehicle in El Dorado County.

His final rampage then allegedly began on the morning of the 20th, leading to the manhunt.

As KCRA reports, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo gave a press briefing Monday morning explaining that Spencer had engaged in a shootout with officers for over two hours before he ultimately died around 4:30 am. Investigators don't believe that Spencer knew his victim, Macy, prior to Sunday.

Spencer also reportedly set multiple fires in the area, which complicated the process of retrieving his body — which had to be done using a helicopter from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office in Nevada.

Woo said that authorities believe that Spencer sparked the Mineral Fire, which has been burning in the Iowa Hill area since 6 am on Sunday, and has burned 18 acres. The manhunt for Spencer delayed firefighters getting access to the fire, which is 0% contained as of noon on Monday.