A jury on Tuesday convicted a man who reportedly fired a gun at two Sacramento police officers while trying to evade arrest six years ago on an attempted murder warrant out of Yuba County.
In the Sacramento County case, the jury found Malcolm Xavier Wilcox Sr., 33, guilty on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic firearm and being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday in a news release.
On April 11, 2020, a Sacramento police officer attempted to arrest Wilcox who was wanted for an attempted murder warrant out of Yuba County. Prosecutors said the officer tried to pull over Wilcox over who drove away at a high rate of speed.
Shortly after, Wilcox slammed on the brakes, jumped out of his vehicle, took out a loaded semi-automatic handgun and fired three gunshots at the officer, according to the District Attorney’s Office. As those gunshots were fired at the officer, another officer arrived.
Both officers returned fire and shot Wilcox. Prosecutors said Wilcox was hit by gunfire, fell to the ground and fired three more gunshots at the officers. When Wilcox ran out of bullets, he surrendered to police.
Wilcox on Wednesday remained in custody at the Sacramento County Main Jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 13 in Sacramento Superior Court. Prosecutors said Wilcox faces a maximum sentence of 74 years to life in prison.
The Yuba County attempted murder case is still pending against Wilcox. Jail records show the felony arrest warrant obtained by the Marysville Police Department remains in effect.
Yuba Superior Court records show Wilcox was charged with attempted murder, burglary, assault with a firearm, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and being a convicted felon in possession of a rifle for an alleged incident that occurred April 10, 2020, one day before the shootout with Sacramento police.
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Rosalio Ahumada writes breaking news stories related to crime and public safety for The Sacramento Bee. He speaks Spanish fluently and has worked as a news reporter in the Central Valley since 2004.