Armed Man Slain in Shoot-Out Suspected in ‘Several’ Slayings

A heavily armed assailant who was shot to death after gunning down his former girlfriend and her fiance’s son may have been involved in “several murders in various states throughout the nation,” sheriff’s officers here said Tuesday.

Lt. Jan Hoganson said the assailant, Ronnie Solida, 36, was “a suspect in several murders,” but provided few details. “I define ‘several’ as three or more murders,” Hoganson said. “The states are somewhere east of California,” he said, adding that “several other law enforcement agencies” told Sacramento authorities that Solida was under investigation in their areas. “His name popped up in several investigations.”

Solida died early Monday in a gun battle after breaking into a home in rural Wilton, about 20 miles southeast of Sacramento, where he killed his former girlfriend, Vikki Hahne, wounded her fiance, Ray Sterger, and killed Sterger’s 19-year-old son, Scott, officers said.

Solida was shot in the head by Sterger’s 14-year-old son, Jeremy, who hid in his bedroom and opened fire on Solida from behind the door. Moments later, Ray Sterger, wounded in the left cheek, fired a final round into Solida when he heard the intruder groan, according to Jeremy Sterger’s account of the incident.

Ray Sterger was in fair condition Tuesday at a Sacramento hospital.

Sheriff’s Lt. Ray Biondi said jealousy was apparently the motive in the shootings.

Sheriff’s officers said Solida was carrying several guns when he entered the Sterger home about 1 a.m. Monday. Officers found more guns, explosives, an anarchist’s handbook with details for bomb-making and a motel room key in a car parked near the Sterger residence.

Biondi said officers traced the key to a motel in Stockton, 45 miles south of Sacramento. Sheriff’s Detective Bob Bell said Solida had been registered there since Friday.

Officers found two blasting caps, clothing, a checkbook and other personal items belonging to Solida in the motel room, Bell said.