An hourslong search for a man accused of killing a woman in Iowa Hill ended early Monday when Placer County sheriff’s deputies fatally shot him after he opened fire during a standoff in rugged forest terrain.
Derek Spencer, 44, had been the focus of an overnight manhunt after authorities said he was suspected of killing 76-year-old Cheryl Macy inside a home in the Iowa Hill area. Investigators believe Spencer fled into the surrounding forest after Macy was killed, leading to a large-scale search involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Monday, members of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team moved into a heavily wooded area where Spencer was believed to be hiding. A California Highway Patrol aircraft equipped with infrared technology helped tactical teams determine his location despite the darkness and difficult terrain.
Deputies then worked their way through steep and rugged ground to reach the suspect. Once they got close, Spencer fired several shots, authorities said, triggering a standoff that continued into the early morning hours.
During the standoff, drone footage showed Spencer starting two separate fires in the area. The combination of the rugged terrain, darkness and nearby flames made the operation more difficult for deputies and other emergency personnel.
At about 4 a.m., Spencer fired again from behind a berm toward deputies. Deputies returned fire, striking Spencer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured during the gunfire.
The incident brought an end to a manhunt that began Sunday after authorities said Spencer had pointed a firearm at people in the area. During the search, officials said he rammed a sheriff’s patrol vehicle and later fired at law enforcement officers and a law enforcement helicopter. Residents in the Iowa Hill area had been warned to stay inside and keep their doors locked while deputies searched for him.
Woman Found Dead During Search
As tactical teams searched a home where Spencer was believed to have been earlier, deputies discovered an adult woman who had been shot and killed. Authorities later identified her as Cheryl Macy, 76.
Investigators believe Spencer killed Macy before escaping into the surrounding forest. The circumstances surrounding her death remain part of the broader investigation.
The operation also became complicated by a wildfire in the same general area. The fire, identified as the Mineral Fire, began near Iowa Hill Road and the Mineral Bar Campground. Because of the active law enforcement operation, firefighters initially faced restrictions on entering the area. After the overnight operation ended, fire crews were able to work on containment.
The Mineral Fire was estimated at about 18 acres Monday morning and was burning through heavy brush and timber on a steep canyon slope, according to updated information reported after the shooting.
Investigation Into Spencer’s Recent Activity
Authorities are also examining Spencer’s actions in the days leading up to the Iowa Hill incident.
Investigators said he was connected to a vehicle and gun theft in El Dorado County on Saturday and was accused of firing at a moving vehicle. Officials said those events preceded the violence reported in Placer County.
Court-record reporting also indicates Spencer had been arrested multiple times earlier in September, including cases involving alleged felony vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, resisting arrest, burglary and vehicle theft. He had been released following those arrests before the Iowa Hill manhunt.
The fatal shooting of Spencer and the death of Macy are now part of separate but connected investigations. Authorities are continuing to examine the sequence of events that led from the earlier incidents to the overnight standoff and deadly exchange of gunfire in the Iowa Hill area.
