Derek Spencer was killed after authorities said he opened fire on deputies following an overnight search through rugged terrain near Iowa Hill.
IOWA HILL, CA — A 44-year-old man sought in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman was killed early Monday after exchanging gunfire with Placer County sheriff’s deputies at the end of an overnight manhunt, authorities said.
Derek Spencer was killed around 4 a.m. Sept. 21 after deputies said he fired toward members of a tactical team from behind a berm in a heavily forested area near Iowa Hill. Deputies returned fire and struck Spencer, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. No deputies were reported injured. The confrontation followed hours of searching after authorities accused Spencer of a series of violent acts Sunday, including ramming a patrol vehicle and firing at law enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Office said members of its Special Enforcement Team began moving toward Spencer’s location shortly before 2:30 a.m. Monday. A California Highway Patrol aircraft equipped with infrared technology had helped authorities locate him in the forest. Tactical teams then moved through steep terrain in darkness, an approach officials said took several hours.
When deputies reached the area where Spencer was hiding, the Sheriff’s Office said he fired several shots, leading to a standoff. Authorities said drone footage later showed Spencer starting two separate fires. At about 4 a.m., officials said Spencer again fired toward deputies from behind a berm. Deputies returned fire, killing him.
The manhunt began Sunday after deputies said Spencer pointed a firearm at people in Placer County. Authorities later located him in the Iowa Hill area, where the Sheriff’s Office said he rammed a stolen vehicle into a deputy’s patrol vehicle and fled. Spencer was also accused of firing at law enforcement officers and a law enforcement helicopter during the search.
As tactical teams searched a home where Spencer had been earlier, deputies found an adult woman who had been shot and killed. The Sheriff’s Office said investigators believed Spencer killed the woman before fleeing into the surrounding forest. Her identity had not been publicly released Monday morning. Authorities had not announced additional details about her or the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The search drew personnel and resources from several agencies, including the El Dorado County, Nevada County and Washoe County sheriff’s offices, the California Highway Patrol and California State Parks. Police departments in Roseville, Rocklin, Nevada City and Grass Valley also assisted, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office said Spencer had been arrested three times earlier in September. Officials said Sacramento County deputies arrested him Sept. 3 on allegations including felony vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and resisting arrest. He was later arrested by Folsom police on a burglary allegation and again by Sacramento County deputies in connection with a stolen vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office said he had been released before the events in Placer County.
Authorities also said Spencer stole a vehicle and firearms in El Dorado County on Sept. 19 and fired at a moving vehicle before the events that led to the Iowa Hill search. Those allegations had not been adjudicated before his death. Investigators have not publicly released further details about the people involved in those earlier incidents.
The law enforcement operation also affected the response to fires near Iowa Hill. Fire crews initially held back from suppression work because of the danger posed by the armed suspect in the area. After Spencer was killed, the Sheriff’s Office said CAL FIRE and Placer County crews began suppression efforts. The woman’s identity remained undisclosed Monday, and authorities had not announced additional findings in the homicide investigation.
Author note: Last updated September 21, 2026.