Roseville murder suspect manhunt: Here’s the timeline leading up to escape and capture

Hanh Truong
·4 min read
2
A Placer County sheriff’s deputy, joined by two police officers, points toward a home on Greenbrae Road in Rocklin on Sunday, July 9, 2023, after a potential sighting of Mahany Park murder suspect Eric James Abril, who escaped early Sunday from Roseville hospital.

The manhunt for Eric Abril, the suspected murderer who fled from a Roseville hospital, ended Monday afternoon when police found him hiding in a Rocklin creekbed.

Abril, 35, was in custody at Auburn jail but escaped from Sutter Roseville Medical Center Sunday, after being taken there due to unconfirmed medical reasons.

Here’s the timeline of events, according to previous Sacramento Bee reporting and scanner traffic:

Timeline of Roseville shooting and manhunt

April 6

Shootout occurs at Mahany Park in Roseville. A man was shot and killed, and his wife was taken hostage. A CHP officer was also shot and the suspect was injured.

April 7

Roseville police release names of the victims and suspect, Eric Abril. James MacEgan, 72 of Roseville was killed and his wife, Patricia, was held hostage and injured.

Friday evening, Abril was released from the hospital and was booked into the South Placer Jail in Roseville on charges of murder, attempted murder, taking a hostage, being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony, assault with a firearm on a peace officer and assault with a firearm.

April 18

Abril appears at a Placer County court for his arraignment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied the enhancement allegations against him during the hearing.

He also waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 60 court days. Placer Superior Court Judge Colleen Nichols scheduled Abril to return to court May 23 for further proceedings.

He was ordered to remain in custody without bail.

Thursday, July 6

Abril is taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center from Auburn jail for an unknown medical issue. A source with knowledge of the matter told The Sacramento Bee on Sunday that Abril had been complaining of seizures.

Around 3 a.m., Sunday

Abril escapes from the hospital.

Around 6 a.m., Sunday

Placer County Sheriff officials announced they and multiple allied agencies were searching for Abril.

About 12:20 p.m., Sunday

Officials sent out a residential surveillance camera photo showing Abril walking without a shirt and wearing orange pants or orange shorts. The photo shows a tattoo on his left shoulder. Officials said it appears to be ocean waves and bamboo.

About 1 p.m., Sunday

Authorities and a helicopter searched for the suspect in Rocklin, north of the hospital. Officers in tactical gear and two armored police trucks scoured the 4500 block of Greenbrae Road near Secret Ravine, a creek that runs parallel to Interstate 80 and travels down past Sutter Roseville’s property.

1:30 p.m., Sunday

Officers search by going house to house.

12:50 a.m., Monday

Authorities search an area at the end of China Garden Road in Rocklin, about a mile northeast of the hospital, after a law enforcement aircraft reported movement in the area. Officers leave the area at 3 a.m.

About 10 a.m., Monday

Placer County Sheriff’s Office put out a Facebook post notifying people that the manhunt for Abril continues.

“Over 70 law enforcement personnel from numerous agencies including Folsom PD, Lincoln PD, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Grass Valley PD, Truckee PD, Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, Woodland PD, Davis PD, West Sacramento PD, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife actively saturated east Roseville and parts of Rocklin overnight, along with 24-hour air surveillance,” the office stated.

The office investigated 64 tips. Officers were focusing their search in the eastern Roseville and Rocklin areas.

Placer County opened an internal investigation on what led to Abril’s escape. Early investigation indicates that the deputy watching the suspect was not asleep during the incident.

“We can confirm at some point, Abril was able to defeat his restraint,” the post stated.

12:30 p.m., Monday

Rocklin police caught Abril near Antelope Creek behind homes on Zion Court, according to scanner traffic.

”If you run, you will be shot,” an officer could be heard shouting over the police radio.

Abril was taken into custody, radio traffic indicated.


The Bee’s Alex Muegge, Sam Stanton and Rosalio Ahumada contributed to this story