Deadly Iowa Hill shootout: What we know about the gunman Placer County deputies killed in standoff
IOWA HILL, Calif. —
Placer County deputies fatally shot a man in an hourslong standoff after he killed a 76-year-old woman, officials said.
Derek Spencer, 44, had been arrested multiple times in the weeks leading up to the early Monday morning shootout that lasted for hours before he died, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation includes the death of Cheryl Macy and a nearby fire that complicated the crime scene.
Below is what we know about the events leading up to the shootout.
Derek Spencer’s previous criminal history
Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo spoke of Spencer’s recent arrests in a news conference hours after the gunbattle.
Court records obtained by KCRA 3 show he was released from the Sacramento County Jail on Sept. 17.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Ed Igoe confirmed Spencer has been booked three times this month:
Once by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office for felony vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and resisting arrest. (Sept. 3)Once by the Folsom Police Department for burglary (Sept. 14)Once by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office for stealing a vehicle (Sept. 16)
Spencer was released on bond for the sheriff’s office arrests on Sept. 3 and Sept. 17.
Woo said investigators did not know about Spencer’s recent arrests until after they had identified him on Sunday afternoon. He described his frustration and believes Macy’s death could have been preventable.
Spencer was from the Sacramento area, Woo said, saying he was likely from Fair Oaks.
The crimes leading up to deadly shootout
Spencer was first wanted after pointing a firearm at people in Placer County. Woo said that deputies located Spencer around 10:30 a.m. Sunday. However, Spencer rammed their patrol vehicle with enough force to disable it, preventing deputies from being able to give chase.
Woo said the vehicle Spencer used was stolen during an armed carjacking in El Dorado County on Saturday.
While searching for Spencer, investigators found a woman, later identified as Macy, who had been shot and killed inside a home. Woo said Spencer had shot Macy before running into the forest. It’s believed the two did not know each other.
Around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Woo said Spencer had shot at law enforcement and a sheriff’s office helicopter before he fled again. Using helicopter infrared technology, deputies found Spencer around 2 a.m. Monday.
For about two hours, Woo said deputies exchanged gunfire with Spencer along Iowa Hill Road and Grand View Avenue, and the gunbattle would not end until 4:30 a.m., with his death.
Investigators recovered a handgun and a rifle after the shootout, Woo said. Eight different SWAT teams responded to this, including from Mono and Inyo counties. No deputies were injured. Details were also not released on how many deputies fired their weapons.
Gunman likely started Mineral Fire
Woo said a nearby fire made the situation more difficult not only for deputies but also for firefighters.
Fire personnel could not immediately battle the Mineral Fire because of how close the standoff was. Woo said once Spencer died, crews were able to move in.
Cal Fire also noted that firefighters were not able to fight the fire until the situation was resolved.
While Woo did not directly say the name of the fire Spencer started, he acknowledged that Spencer started a fire in the area of the standoff. LiveCopter 3 spotted smoke near the crime scene.
After Spencer died, Woo said that a helicopter had to hoist his body because of how close the flames were.
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