ELK GROVE, CALIFORNIA – A horrific domestic tragedy ended in a fatal freeway shootout on Tuesday after a former sheriff's deputy allegedly murdered his young son. Authorities say the suspect stabbed the 11-year-old boy while the child's mother watched the nightmare unfold in real-time via a home security camera.
Watched in Real-Time
The violence began shortly after 8 a.m. at a home in Elk Grove. Police say the mother of the child called 911 in a panic after seeing Morales assault their son on a live home security video feed.
Officers rushed to the scene and found the 11-year-old boy suffering from critical stab wounds. He was transported to a hospital but was tragically pronounced dead. A 6-year-old girl who was also inside the home during the attack was found unharmed.
High-Speed Pursuit
The suspect fled the scene before police arrived, but he did not get far. Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper was on his way to work when he personally spotted the suspect's vehicle just after 9 a.m. and relayed the location to his team.
A chase ensued on Interstate 5 where Morales reached speeds of 100 mph. California Highway Patrol officers deployed a spike strip near Lodi which forced the SUV to veer off the freeway and crash.
Empty Gun Safe
After the crash, officers from multiple agencies, including the Elk Grove Police and Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, opened fire. Morales was shot and later died at a hospital. While it is unclear if Morales fired back, investigators noted that a gun safe at his home was found empty, suggesting he was armed during the pursuit.
Disgraced History
Marvin Morales, 40, had a troubled history with the department. He was terminated in February 2024 following a disturbing internal investigation.
Documents revealed that Morales had seized drugs from a suspect in 2023 and then smoked them inside a sheriff's station bathroom. He believed he was smoking methamphetamine but overdosed on fentanyl and had to be revived with Narcan. A subsequent investigation confirmed chronic illicit drug use which led to his firing.
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