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A suspect who was arrested in connection with a fatal hostage incident at a California park in April has managed to escape custody, according to officials. Eric Abril, 35, allegedly shot and wounded a highway patrol officer at Mahany Park before taking two bystanders hostage, fatally shooting one and injuring the other. Abril managed to escape from the Sutter Roseville Medical Center on Sunday morning. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office and the Roseville Police Department are now conducting a search in the greater east Roseville area to locate the suspect. The reason for Abril’s presence at the medical center has not been clarified by officials.
New information has revealed that Abril was last seen on video surveillance walking in the area of Rainier Court in Rocklin at 3:39 a.m. and then heading northbound a few minutes later on Saddletree Lane. The sheriff’s office described Abril as a six-foot tall white male with brown hair, weighing 175 pounds, who was last seen wearing an orange jail jumpsuit. However, in an update, it was mentioned that Abril was not wearing a shirt or shackled at the waist but is believed to be wearing orange jail pants.
Law enforcement agencies are urging anyone with information about Abril’s whereabouts to come forward and are advising the public to exercise extreme caution. The gunfire initially occurred on April 6 at Mahany Park when California Highway Patrol officers attempted to serve a search warrant to Abril as part of an ongoing felony investigation. The suspect allegedly ran and fired at the officers, leading to an officer-involved shooting. Abril then took two people hostage, identified as a married couple. James MacEgan was killed, and his spouse was shot and injured during the incident.
Abril had been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder, along with several other related charges. It is currently unclear if he has legal representation. The authorities are making every effort to apprehend Abril and ensure the safety of the public..
