Placer County deputies kill man after hourslong gunbattle, manhunt near Mineral Fire

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PLACER COUNTY, Calif. —

A man accused of killing a woman died after an hourslong gunbattle with deputies, where time was crucial as flames were closing in, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

Derek Spencer, 44, is believed to have killed 76-year-old Cheryl Macy and had been on the run for nearly 20 hours, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said during a news briefing.

Spencer was first wanted after pointing a firearm at people in Placer County, in addition to other alleged felonies. The sheriff's office said that when Spencer was found by deputies around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, he rammed a vehicle stolen in El Dorado County into one of their patrol vehicles and managed to get away. Woo explained that Spencer had rammed the vehicle with enough force to disable it and prevent it from being able to chase after him.

While searching for Spencer, investigators found a woman, later identified as Macy, who had been shot and killed inside a home, the sheriff's office said. Deputies believe Spencer was in this house earlier and shot the woman before running into the forest. Woo said it's believed the two did not know each other.

| FULL NEWS CONFERENCE | Placer sheriff details chaotic standoff, deadly deputy shooting

When deputies found Spencer around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, he is believed to have shot at them and a sheriff's office helicopter. Deputies lost sight of Spencer afterward until the Monday morning standoff, when they tracked him in the Iowa Hill area using helicopter infrared technology.

Woo said the shootout lasted for over two hours before Spencer died shortly after 4:30 a.m. Monday. Because Spencer had started multiple fires in the area, a helicopter from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office in Nevada had to hoist his body out of the area due to flames being within 90 yards of the shooting scene.

The fires also complicated detective work in responding to Macy's death investigation, Woo said. Because of the standoff, firefighters also could not immediately respond to the nearby Mineral Fire that sparked Sunday morning on Iowa Hill Road. Investigators at this point believe Spencer started the Mineral Fire, which is still putting up smoke as of Monday morning.

Spencer is believed to have been from the Fair Oaks area of Sacramento County, Woo said. Deputies recovered a handgun and a rifle after the shootout.

Eight different SWAT teams responded to this, including from Mono and Inyo counties, Woo said, explaining that the area where the shooting happened was in steep, rugged terrain.

Spencer is also believed to have been involved with an armed carjacking on Saturday in El Dorado County, according to the Foresthill Fire Protection District and the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.

There is currently a perimeter at Iowa Hill Road at Grand View Avenue.

Derek Spencer's recent criminal history

KCRA 3 received a tip that Spencer was arrested in Sacramento County as early as last week. Court records show he was released from Sacramento County Jail on Thursday, Sept. 17.

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Ed Igoe confirmed Spencer has been booked three times this month:

Spencer was released on bond for the sheriff's office arrests on Sept. 3 and Sept. 16.

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Placer County deputies kill man after hourslong gunbattle, manhunt near Mineral Fire | Readon News