A former Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy accused of fatally stabbing his 11-year-old son in Elk Grove was shot and killed by law enforcement during a chase on Interstate 5 in San Joaquin County Tuesday morning.
Authorities say the shooting happened shortly before 10 a.m. along I-5, just south of Highway 12. Elk Grove police confirmed one of its officers was involved, while the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said two deputies opened fire, along with other responding officers. No officers were injured, and investigators have not yet determined which agency fired the fatal shots.
The suspect, 40-year-old Marvin Morales, was taken to a hospital, where he died from his wounds, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Child Found Stabbed After Mother’s Call for Help
Police said the incident began around 8 a.m. when a woman called 911, fearing for the safety of her two children left at home with their father. Officers arrived at the home on Ferrell Way and found an 11-year-old boy stabbed and a 6-year-old child unharmed.
At a press conference, police said the mother saw the attack unfold via her home’s security cameras and alerted officers immediately. The injured child later died at the hospital.
Before police arrived, Morales fled the home. Officers found the family gun safe emptied, prompting warnings to surrounding agencies.
High-Speed Pursuit Ends in Officer-Involved Shooting
Moments later, Sheriff Jim Cooper—who was driving to work—spotted the suspect’s vehicle after receiving the alert. CHP Chief Tyler Eccles said officers used a spike strip to stop the vehicle, causing Morales to crash into a ditch. Investigators have not confirmed whether Morales fired at officers or was inside the vehicle when he was shot.
Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen called the killing of the child “a horrific and senseless tragedy” and expressed condolences to the grieving mother.
The Elk Grove Unified School District confirmed the victim was one of its students and said counselors would be available to support students and staff.
I-5 was shut down at Highway 12 following the shooting.
Morales’ History With the Sheriff’s Office
Morales resigned from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office last year following a fentanyl overdose inside the agency’s headquarters, according to internal affairs records. Investigators concluded he had been using narcotics confiscated during misdemeanor drug arrests, contradicting initial claims he was accidentally exposed to chemicals.
He was terminated in February and no longer had law enforcement authority.
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