Roseville park shooter sentenced to life without parole

Eric James Abril, 38, of Roseville was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Wednesday in relation to a kidnapping and shooting incident that took place at Mahany Park in Roseville on April 6, 2023. A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer tried to serve Abril a warrant as part of a planned operation in April 2023. According to a previous Gold Mountain California News Media report, Roseville Police responded to assist a CHP Task Force officer after "shots fired" was broadcast over the police radio and a CHP officer was struck. Abril fled the scene through Mahany Park and took two civilian hostages, who he later shot. One hostage was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the previous report. Abril pled guilty to first-degree murder, the attempted murder of a peace officer and kidnapping on March 4. According to the Placer County District Attorney's Office, the court imposed a sentence of life without parole for the murder of the elderly male victim, along with an additional life term for the attempted murder of the officer and the kidnapping. "I can't give you true justice," Judge Jones said to the family during the sentencing. "True justice would take you back to an hour or two before this incident happened and have you in a different place. I can't do that. So, we rely on the courts to give the next-best opportunity to find justice for what has happened. I am sorry for what has happened to you and your loved ones." Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire added, "This case reflects the definition of an extreme and callous disregard for human life, leaving one victim dead, another permanently injured, and family and a community forever impacted. The defendant's actions not only took a life but shattered a family and disrupted a place meant for safety and recreation. Life without the possibility of parole is the only just conclusion for this case."