ELK GROVE, Calif. —

Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper was among the first to spot the former deputy on the run after he fatally stabbed his 11-year-old son at their Elk Grove home.

"I didn't want him to see me because he knows me," said Cooper. "I just followed and was a good observer until the cavalry arrived."

Cooper, who had fired Marvin Morales, 40, in 2023 after he lied about a fentanyl overdose on duty , was alerted by the Elk Grove police chief when they realized the suspect was a former deputy.

Cooper said, "I figured, let me look for this guy."

With a description of Morales' car and license plate, Cooper left his Elk Grove home to assist in the search, eventually spotting Morales on the freeway. He said that as he was merging onto the freeway, he drove right next to Morales.

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