Police said an officer fired during the pursuit before the armed suspect died by suicide Saturday night.
ELK GROVE, CA — A suspected arsonist died by suicide Saturday night after fleeing from Elk Grove police during a response to a reported fire at a home along Bradshaw Road, according to local news reports citing police.
Officers were called after reports that a person was starting a fire at the property. Police encountered an armed suspect, who fled, prompting officers to pursue him away from the scene. During the chase, an Elk Grove police officer fired a weapon, authorities said.
The suspect later died by suicide, according to police accounts reported by ABC10. Authorities had not publicly identified the person as of Sunday morning. Available reports also did not establish that the officer’s gunfire struck the suspect.
KCRA reported that the incident began as an arson investigation and developed into a chase that led to an officer firing at the suspect. Early reports described the person as a suspected arsonist, but authorities had not announced any criminal charges or released evidence establishing responsibility for the fire before the suspect’s death.
Details about what prompted the officer to fire, including the suspect’s actions immediately before the shot, remained limited Sunday. Authorities also had not publicly released the officer’s identity or said how many shots were fired.
The extent of damage from the reported fire was not immediately clear from available reporting. No confirmed injuries to officers or other members of the public were reported in the initial accounts reviewed Sunday.
The incident remained under investigation, including the circumstances surrounding the reported arson, the police pursuit, the officer’s use of a firearm and the suspect’s death. Additional evidence, including any available body-camera footage or other recordings, had not been publicly detailed in the initial reports.
Authorities had not released the suspect’s name, age or other identifying information. Further findings are expected as investigators review the sequence of events and determine what occurred before and during the police encounter.
Author note: Last updated September 13, 2026.