Authorities in Placer County, California, have identified the man killed by deputies early Sunday as 44-year-old Derek Spencer. Spencer was shot dead in the Iowa Hill area after allegedly firing multiple shots at law enforcement officers.
The confrontation occurred around 4 a.m. following an overnight manhunt. Tactical teams had located Spencer using infrared technology from a California Highway Patrol aircraft, according to deputies.
Spencer was sought in connection with the death of an adult woman whose body was discovered inside a home. Investigators believe Spencer killed the woman before fleeing into the surrounding rugged terrain. He was also accused of ramming a sheriff's vehicle, pointing a firearm at people, and firing at law enforcement and a helicopter.
During the search for Spencer, deputies found the woman's body inside a residence. The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation.
The manhunt involved multiple agencies and focused on heavily wooded areas, complicating efforts to apprehend Spencer. The early morning hours Sunday brought the conclusion to the intense search when Spencer was located and engaged deputies in a shootout.