Former California deputy suspected of killing his 11-year-old is fatally shot after freeway chase

A California sheriff's deputy suspected of killing his 11-year-old son Tuesday morning was fatally shot after he led authorities on a freeway pursuit, officials said

A California sheriff's deputy suspected of killing his 11-year-old son Tuesday morning was fatally shot after he led authorities on a freeway pursuit, officials said.

The 11-year-old boy was stabbed at his home in Elk Grove, a city 15 miles south of Sacramento, as his mother watched via online security video and called 911 shortly after 8 a.m., local police said.

The child was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, Elk Grove police spokesperson Cristina Gonzalez said. A 6-year-old girl also in the home was unharmed and safe, she said.

Marvin Morales in 2023.Sacramento County Sheriff's OfficeFormer Sacramento County sheriff's deputy Marvin Morales is accused in the death. Morales was terminated last year after an internal investigation found he lied about using drugs seized from suspects in 2023, according to a sheriff's spokesperson and agency documents.

Sheriff Jim Cooper was on his way to work when he spotted a suspect vehicle and relayed the location to fellow law enforcement officers shortly after 9 a.m., sheriff's spokesperson Amar Gandhi said.