Sacramento-area rampage suspects charged with murder, attempted murder

A man accused of killing two sheriff’s deputies and wounding another also stole a deputy’s squad car and shotgun during a crime spree in Northern California, according to a complaint filed by Sacramento County prosecutors Tuesday.

In the 14-count charging document, Luis Monroy Bracamonte, 34, also known as Marcelo Marquez, is charged with two counts of murdering a peace officer and three counts of attempted murder -- including the shooting of a motorist. The suspect was also charged with several carjacking and weapons–related felonies.

Monroy’s wife, Janelle Monroy, 38, is also charged as an accessory with multiple counts of attempted murder and carjacking. The pair were allegedly armed with a .380-caliber handgun, a 9mm handgun, an AR-15 assault rifle and a Placer County sheriff’s deputy’s 12-gauge shotgun during the rampage Friday.

Monroy, an undocumented immigrant, had been twice deported, officials said.

According to officials in Sacramento and Placer counties, Monroy’s attack began when Sacramento County sheriff’s Deputy Danny Oliver, who was on patrol with his partner, stopped to check on a suspicious vehicle in a Motel 6 parking lot. Officials said Monroy fired from the car, fatally wounding Oliver, a 47-year-old father of two.

The couple then tried to carjack a motorist about a mile away, authorities said. When the driver, identified as Anthony Holmes, refused to turn over his keys, he was shot in the head.

After failing to commandeer Holmes’ vehicle, officials said, the couple stole another car and drove to Auburn, where they were confronted by Placer County sheriff’s Det. Michael David Davis Jr. and Deputy Jeff Davis. Authorities say Luis Monroy shot both lawmen.

Jeff Davis was wounded in the arm and Michael Davis, 42, later died. The officers are not related. Prosecutors allege the Monroys also stole a Placer County sheriff’s vehicle and shotgun.

Luis Monroy was later arrested in a residence and his wife was still inside the car.

Law enforcement officials said Monroy had a history of run-ins with immigration officials and may have used multiple aliases.

In a statement released Monday to the media, Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Monroy’s rampage is the result of “inherent dishonesty and ineptitude” in the federal government’s immigration policy.

Arpaio -- an outspoken critic of those who enter the country illegally -- said his department’s records show Monroy was arrested in 1996, 1998 and twice in 2001. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deported Monroy in 1997 and 2001, officials said.

How Monroy ended up back in the country is unclear, authorities said. On social media, Monroy and his wife appeared to have Facebook pages under different names. His wife is a U.S. citizen.

Authorities said they think Luis Monroy had at least three different aliases.

A motive for Friday’s shooting remains under investigation, Sacramento County officials said.

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