ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Eric Abril was captured in Rocklin on Monday, July 10 after escaping custody at a Roseville hospital about 33 hours earlier. Find the latest updates HERE.
Hundreds of law enforcement offices from across the Sacramento region searched Sunday for the man charged in an April hostage shooting that escaped from custody overnight.
Eric Abril is accused of taking hostages and killing one at Mahany Park n April. He escaped from custody Sunday morning at the Sutter Roseville Medical Center, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said.
Around 12:30 Sunday afternoon, the sheriff's office released a photo of him wearing orange pants and no shirt. They said he was seen near the areas of Rainier Court and Saddletree Lane in Rocklin around 3:40 a.m. Those areas are about three miles north of the hospital.
The sheriff's office said that more than 200 officers from law enforcement agencies across the region are looking for Abril.
Abril left Sutter Roseville Medical Center around 3 a.m. Sunday morning. He was taken to the hospital on Thursday. During a Sunday morning news conference Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo didn't disclose what Abril was being treated for.
“I know there are a lot of questions surrounding this case. Specifically surrounding the circumstances regarding the escape. Quite frankly I have a lot of questions as well,” Woo said. “I can assure the community that when the time is right there will be a thorough investigation on how this was able to occur and whether there were any policy violations.”
Woo said there was a guard assigned to Abril at the hospital but he got away after a short chase.
Abril is facing murder and kidnapping charges from the April 6 incident at Mahany Park that left hostage James MacEgan dead. MacEgan's wife and a CHP officer were wounded.
The 35-year-old is about six feet tall, 175 pounds and has brown hair. People are asked to call 911 if they see him. A tip line is also set up at 916-409-1257.
Tips can also be submitted HERE
SHOOTOUT TIMELINE
It started around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6, when a CHP was looking for Abril so they could execute a search warrant in connection with a freeway shooting.
A CHP task force officer reported shots fired and CHP Officer Matthew Hiatt was hit.
Firefighters from Station 5 brought the officer into the station and provided medical treatment.
Roseville officers then responded to Mahany Park and were confronted by Abril, who was armed and running away from them.
Law enforcement officials said Abril took two people hostage, husband and wife James and Patricia MacEgan, and he got into a shootout with officers.
Abril allegedly shot the two hostages, injuring Patricia and killing James, before he was taken into custody.
Days after the shooting, ABC10 learned from police they were told about California Highway Patrol surveillance in the area on April 6, but not details about the search warrant they were trying to execute on Eric Abril.
They said 6 CHP officers were involved in the initial confrontation with Abril and then three Roseville police officers arrived.
CHP officers fired 15-25 rounds at Abril while Roseville police fired six rounds, and Abril allegedly fired 15-20 rounds at officers during the standoff.
Documents filed in Placer County Superior Court say Abril was wearing body armor and used a 10mm during the shootout.
