Arson suspect dies of self-inflicted injury after shooting involving Elk Grove police A suspected arsonist in Elk Grove died after a chase that led to an officer shooting him, according to police. The Elk Grove Police Department said he was not hit by gunfire but died from a self-inflicted injury. Officers responded to reports of a person setting fires at a residence in the 8600 block of Bradshaw Road around 6:04 p.m. Saturday, police said. They found a motor home trailer that was set on fire by the suspect. The Cosumnes Fire Department extinguished the fire. The suspect, a man, was found near Waterman Road, between Sheldon and Calvine roads, and proceeded to flee, leading police through multiple rural properties, authorities said. A police helicopter located him in a field armed with a rifle, which police said was later determined to be a pellet gun. Police said an officer fired his service weapon after the suspect pointed his gun at the police helicopter. According to police, the suspect was not hit and was later found dead after taking his own life by means other than a firearm. Police have not specified how he took his life. An investigation is underway. The suspect has not yet been identified. KCRA 3 spoke with a neighbor who lives on Bradshaw Road. He said it all started on the property he lives on. “I got in my car to go shopping and when I got to the door, he stopped and started asking me some questions like, oh, are you making fun of me?” Roberto said. “And I was like, what are you talking about? And he said, well, watch until I find out and I’ll kill your mom.” Roberto said the man, who worked on the property as a laborer, then started setting fires around his house. “He started setting fire to the back porch and an RV that’s parked on the right side of the house,” Roberto said. “We’re fighting to blow everything up with hoses, diluting it. And before you know it, it’s gone.” He said he did not believe the man had a gun and did not expect the situation to become as serious as it did. “It just happened so fast. It’s crazy to think about it,” he said.
