Cops shoot dead gunman who sparked terror in small California town — as woman’s body is found

A California man accused of killing a woman and launching a violent crime spree was shot dead by deputies early Sunday after a tense overnight manhunt through rugged forests.

Derek Spencer, 44, was killed around 4 a.m. after cops said he fired multiple shots at them from behind a berm in the Iowa Hill area.

The confrontation came hours after tactical teams located him using infrared technology from a California Highway Patrol aircraft.

The deadly standoff followed the discovery of an adult woman who had been shot and killed inside a home where Spencer had reportedly been earlier. Investigators believe Spencer killed the woman before fleeing into the surrounding woods.

Authorities said he had been sought after allegedly pointing a firearm at people, ramming a sheriff’s vehicle and firing at law enforcement and a helicopter.

Tactical teams spent several hours making their way through steep, difficult terrain in the darkness before reaching Spencer’s location, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

Once deputies reached him, Spencer allegedly opened fire, leading to a standoff. Drone footage showed him starting two separate fires while he remained behind cover, authorities said.

The deadly encounter brought an end to a sprawling manhunt that began after Spencer allegedly rammed a sheriff’s patrol vehicle and fled into the remote Iowa Hill area. Residents had been warned to lock their doors and remain inside as deputies and law enforcement agencies flooded the area.

The sheriff’s office said Spencer had also allegedly stolen a vehicle and guns on Saturday and fired at a moving vehicle in El Dorado County before fleeing into the area.

Spencer had been arrested three times earlier this month, according to authorities. His previous arrests included allegations of felony vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, resisting arrest, burglary and vehicle theft.

Multiple law enforcement agencies joined the search, with tactical teams from surrounding counties and police departments assisting Placer County deputies. CAL FIRE crews were also working to suppress the fires sparked during the standoff.

The investigation into the woman’s death and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing.

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