ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Eric Abril, the suspect in a deadly shootout in Roseville’s Mahany Park, has been captured after escaping from custody.
Abril escaped overnight Sunday at the Sutter Roseville Medical Center, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office.
Law enforcement confirmed around 12:45 p.m. Monday he was caught near Zion Court in Rocklin.
In a press conference, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said they had more than 60 tips come in regarding the search for Abril. However, many of those leads didn't turn out to be credible sightings.
"As we investigated all those leads, everything led back to the only credible sighting was back at Rainier Court at about four in the morning the day of the escape. All signs pointed to that was truly his location last seen," said Woo.
Deputies and other law enforcement teams surrounded the greenbelt area behind Rainier Court, the Antelope Creek area for the search. However, it turned out to be a man taking his dog out proved to be the difference.
"As they push towards Zion Court, an alert homeowner who was taking his dog out, the dog started barking. He saw somebody moving in that Greenbelt area, and in fact, it was Abril," said Woo.
He was taken into custody not long afterward.
Congressman Kevin Kiley sent the following statement about Abril's capture:
“I am grateful to the hundreds of brave men and women in law enforcement across our region who came together to find and apprehend this dangerous killer before he could harm anyone else. There must be an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding his escape from custody to assure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
Abril escaped overnight Sunday at the Sutter Roseville Medical Center, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office said Abril defeated his restraints during the escape.
"Our preliminary investigation reveals the deputy was not asleep during the incident. We have already opened an internal investigation to determine what occurred leading up to Abril’s escape," the sheriff's office wrote in a news release.
Woo said the sheriff's office will be looking into the circumstances of his escape and reviewing their policies, procedures and equipment to make sure this type of incident doesn't happen again.
Abril is facing murder and kidnapping charges from the April 6 shootout at Mahany Park that left hostage James MacEgan dead. MacEgan's wife and a CHP officer were wounded.
Roseville Mahany Park Shooting
The shootout started around 12:30 p.m. on April 6, when California Highway Patrol was looking for Eric 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.
Abril took two people hostage, husband and wife James and Patricia MacEgan, and he got into a shootout with law enforcement.
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.
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