Roseville park shooter Eric Abril Gets Life for Murder
March 26, 2026
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — On March 25, 2026, the Honorable Judge Jones sentenced Eric James Abril, 38, to life in prison without the possibility of parole following his conviction of first-degree murder, attempted murder of a peace officer, and kidnapping stemming from a violent shooting spree at a Roseville Park.
On April 6, 2023, officers from the California Highway Patrol attempted to serve a search warrant on Abril and his vehicle at Mahany Park in Roseville.
Abril opened fire on officers before fleeing into a field in an attempt to escape. During the initial gun battle, Abril shot one officer in the chest, but the bullet was stopped by the officer’s ballistic vest. Abril encountered a couple hiding in the field, and he murdered the male and took the female hostage. During the ensuing standoff, Abril shot the female hostage in the back, seriously wounding her. Officers surrounded Abril and he was eventually taken into custody.
At sentencing, the court imposed a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the murder of the elderly man, along with an additional life term for the attempted murder of the peace officer and for the kidnapping.
The evidence in this case that would have been presented during a trial, such as ballistics analysis, coroner report and more demonstrated that Abril was directly responsible for the murder, qualifying the case for a sentence of life without parole.
The presiding judge addressed the family, saying, “I can’t give you true justice. 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.”
“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,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. “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.”
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney David Tellman and Supervising Deputy District Attorney Kalin Everett, and the family was supported by the office’s Victim Services Unit.
In the aftermath of Eric Abril’s sentencing, the Roseville Police Department provided the public with an in-depth account of the April 6 shooting through a compilation of dispatch audio and body-worn camera footage. The compilation is available for public viewing at the YouTube link provided by the department. @followers.”
Originally posted by the Placer County District Attorney’s Office
Photo/Courtesy of the Placer County District Attorney’s Office
