Standoff With Gunman In South Sacramento Ends Peacefully

A suspected gunman who barricaded himself inside a South Sacramento home on Christmas morning was arrested after sheriff's deputies apprehended him without incident from the home, according to law enforcement.

At about 4:30 a.m., shots were reported fired in a residence on the 5100 block of Thurman Way, according to a news release from Sacramento County Sheriff's Sgt. Tony Turnbull.

The suspected shooter, identified by law enforcement as Spence Louis Sawyer, 35, had argued with his girlfriend and fired shots inside the residence, though not at his girlfriend. She was able to leave the home unharmed, Turnbull said.

When sheriff's deputies responded, Sawyer barricaded himself inside the house and refused sheriff's negotiator's requests to leave, the sergeant said. Nearby residents were evacuated.

At about 9:50 a.m, a team including a sheriff's canine and deputies entered the residence, found Sawyer barricaded and apprehended him, according to Turnbull.

Deputies planned to arrest Sawyer for "negligible discharge of a firearm" and being a felon in possession of a firearm, the sergeant said. The suspect will be booked at the Sacramento County Main Jail.