Shingletown double homicide suspect killed in SoCal

July 2, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

SHINGLETOWN, Calif. — Authorities who have spent the last several days searching for a man believed to have shot three people, killing two victims and critically injuring the third, announced last night that the alleged gunman was killed early yesterday morning following a traffic accident in Ontario, CA.

According to CHP – Inland Division Area officers, Daun Eric Sanders, 35, of Shingletown, died around 4:25 a.m., when he was struck by a car while fleeing on foot from the scene of two separate traffic collisions on Interstate 15.

A puppy Sanders was carrying when he fled across the freeway was also killed in the vehicle versus pedestrian collision.

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Authorities had previously named Sanders as the sole suspect in the Saturday, June 27, triple shooting that killed two men at a Shingletown residence on the 27000 block of Gail Ln., near Dersch Rd.

Shasta County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Coroner Lt. Gunsauls has since identified the two victims of Sanders’ gunfire as 59-year-old Jon Charles Depoorter, and 66-year-old Michael Barton Stanfill. Both were residents of Shingletown.

Sanders’ third victim, who reportedly remains hospitalized in critical condition, has not yet been publicly identified by officials; who have not specified any known motive for the deadly gun violence.

Authorities say the man they believe was responsible for a triple shooting in Shingletown that killed two and critically injured a third was killed early yesterday morning while trying to run across I-15 in Ontario, CA., nearly 600 miles from where the deadly shooting happened. SCSO photo

Officials began searching for Sanders after responding to a private residence on Gail Ln., after receiving reports of gunfire with three victims down at the rural property.

After confirming the deadly shooting, members of Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, Redding Police Department, California Fish and Game, and California Highway Patrol descended on the Shingletown area and began an intensive manhunt that continued throughout the next several days.

However, despite an exhaustive search that included SWAT members, tactical armored rescue vehicles, helicopters, and unmanned drones, officials were initially unable to locate Sanders.

As their investigation and search continued, SCSO put out a multi-state “Be On The Lookout” request searching for Sanders’ whereabouts.

In one of several press releases about the ongoing double homicide investigation, Shasta County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit Sgt. Kyle Wallace reported, “Sanders should be considered armed and dangerous, and we ask the public not to confront (him).”

On Wednesday, July 1, California Highway Patrol notified detectives from the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit regarding a fatal, early morning collision in Ontario, nearly 600 miles south from where the triple shooting occurred.

SEE ORIGINAL AND UPDATED STORY: Two dead, third critical, search for gunman continuing, after Shingletown shooting

According to Wallace, while investigating the deadly accident CHP officers positively identified Sanders as the man killed while running Interstate 15, away from the scene of two separate traffic collisions.

Upon learning that Sanders was wanted in connection with the Shingletown shootings, CHP officers immediately notified Shasta County Sheriff’s officials.

During their subsequent collision investigation, CHP learned Sanders had been driving the wrong way, northbound in the southbound lanes on Interstate 15 near 4th St., when his GMC pickup truck sideswiped a tractor-trailer semi-truck.

Sanders, whose pickup was still operational after the initial collision, then turned his truck around on the freeway and began speeding southbound before colliding with the freeway’s center median near Jurupa St., about two miles from the initial collision with the big-rig.

After the second crash, Sanders exited his disabled pickup truck with a puppy and fled on foot over the freeway’s center median. He then attempted to run across the northbound lanes of I-15.

As he ran across the freeway, Sanders and the puppy were struck by another vehicle traveling at highway speed.

Both Sanders and the puppy were pronounced deceased at the scene, according to CHP and Wallace.

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Sanders was facing multiple felony charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder, as well as other charges related to last Saturday’s deadly incident in Shingletown.

Although Sanders was the only suspect named in the case, the incident is still under investigation, according to Wallace.

Detectives from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit have now turned their search to finding Sanders’ father, 80-year-old, William “Bill” Sanders, who has not been seen or heard from since Thursday, June 25, two days before the triple shooting.

“He is considered missing and at risk,” explained Wallace.

Officials are continuing to search for Sanders’ father, 80-year-old, William “Bill” Sanders, who was last seen or heard from on June 25, two days before Sanders shot three people, killing two and critically injuring a third. SCSO photo

Anyone with further information regarding this investigation or who knows the whereabouts of William “Bill” Sanders, is encouraged to immediately contact the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at (530) 245-6135 or by email. Callers can refer to incident file number 20S019252 and can remain anonymous.

This is still a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.