Escaped Murder Suspect Who Fled NorCal Hospital Is In Custody

ROSEVILLE, CA — Eric Abril, the inmate charged with murder who escaped a Roseville hospital over the weekend, was taken into custody mid-day Monday, according to police.

He was found around 12:20 p.m. hiding in a green belt on Zion Court at Bryce Way in Rocklin, police said, adding he was wearing belly chains and jail boxers.

A resident taking out their dog, which barked, noticed someone moving in the Antelope Creek area, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said at a press conference following the apprehension, adding Abril's hands were no longer affixed and his jail pants were found nearby. Abril was taken to be medically cleared and will be housed at South Placer Jail, according to Woo.

“I take full responsibility for this incident, quite frankly,” Woo said. “This should have never happened."

Abril is charged with murder, attempted murder, and related charges after in April he took two hostages, killing one and injuring the other, and exchanged gunfire with police at a Roseville park, according to authorities.

Officials had searched the Sacramento suburbs for Abril since early Sunday, according to police.

Abril, 35, got out of his restraints and left Sutter Roseville Medical Center early Sunday, police said, and he was seen on surveillance around 3:39 a.m. Sunday walking in the area of Rainier Court in Rocklin.

He was originally taken to the hospital by ambulance, according to Woo, who said Abril had been classified as a two-officer move when he was first arrested but had since been downgraded to a single officer.

Abril fled the hospital on foot through a door, with a deputy chasing him, Woo said.

Over 70 law enforcement personnel were searching east Roseville and parts of Rocklin overnight, along with 24-hour air surveillance, police said. Authorities had investigated 64 tips as of Monday morning, according to police, though Woo said none of them proved credible.

The sheriff's office opened an internal investigation into the events leading to Abril's escape, police said, as well as a review of corrections policies and procedures regarding inmate transportation and related supervision and security.

The deputy who was watching Abril remains on duty, but if policies are found to have been violated, disciplinary action will be taken, Wood said.

Abril was arrested April 6 after highway patrol, which had a search warrant for Abril, tried to make contact with him at Mahany Park, police said. Following a confrontation, Abril took two hostages, killing one and injuring the other, according to police. Abril exchanged numerous rounds of gunfire with police and was shot in the arm, according to authorities. The Associated Press reported Abril struck a highway patrol officer.