Eric Abril, 38, received a life sentence without parole after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, attempted murder of a peace officer, and kidnapping. The crimes occurred during a shootout at Mahany Park in Roseville, California, on April 6, 2023. He killed 72-year-old James MacEgan and wounded his wife and an officer.
Placer County District Attorney's Office announced that Eric Abril was sentenced this week following his guilty plea earlier this month. The incident began around 12:30 p.m. when California Highway Patrol officers attempted to serve a search warrant on Abril at Mahany Park, linked to a freeway shooting in Sacramento County, as reported by KOVR. As officers approached, Abril fled and fired approximately 20 rounds at them while wearing a bullet-resistant jacket, according to Roseville Police Department. One officer was shot in the chest, but the bullet was stopped by his ballistic vest; he received hospital treatment. Abril then encountered James MacEgan, 72, and his wife hiding in a field near a creek. He shot MacEgan dead and took the wife hostage, dragging her into the creek and using her as a shield, police stated. The woman described hearing a close gunshot, smelling gunpowder, and her ear ringing. She told the court, 'I saw the light go out,' referring to her husband's death, and called it a 'Wild West' shootout, per KCRA. Abril shot her in the back, seriously injuring her, and used her phone to tell police he had killed her husband and would kill officers. Officers deployed a drone, surrounded him with armored vehicles, and took him into custody; he had two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. The wife was treated on scene and hospitalized. At sentencing, the judge told MacEgan's family, 'I can't give you true justice... True justice would take you back.' District Attorney Morgan Gire said the acts showed 'extreme and callous disregard for human life,' warranting life without parole.