By Kim Minugh and Bill Lindelof
kminugh@sacbee.com
Sacramento County sheriff's detectives arrested the Fair Oaks man who shot two suspected burglars in his home early this morning, authorities say.
One of the two suspects died.
The homeowner was arrested for suspected weapons violations, not murder, said sheriff's Sgt. Jason Ramos.
Jerry Rasmussen, 60, was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing prohibited ammunition, jail booking records show. Both are felony charges.
Rasmussen is scheduled to appear in court Friday.
Ramos said Rasmussen was startled about 2:15 a.m. today by an intruder in his home in the 6900 block of Laurel Oak Way near Madison Avenue and Dewey Drive.
He armed himself with a handgun and shot at the stranger in his home, causing the intruder to run from the residence, Ramos said.
The homeowner's attention was then drawn to a second stranger who was in a bedroom doorway. The homeowner shot again, fatally wounding the second intruder, a man in his 30s.
Rasmussen then ran from his residence to seek help, Ramos said. Deputies arrived and found the dead man inside.
The first man shot at by the homeowner, also a man in his 30s, was found at an area hospital with a gunshot wound, Ramos said. The injury is not life-threatening and the wounded man is likely to be arrested, Ramos said.
Deputies found evidence of forced entry into the Laurel Oak Way home.
Rasmussen was cooperative while being interviewed by detectives, Ramos said. During the investigation, detectives learned Rasmussen is a felon and arrested him, Ramos said.
Call The Bee's Kim Minugh, (916) 321-1038. Follow her on Twitter @Kim_Minugh.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.