Sheriff's office: Rancho Cordova machete-attack suspect confesses to attack after arrest
RANCHO CORDOVA — A man is under arrest for the brutal machete attack Monday night on a cyclist in Rancho Cordova.
According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, 42-year-old James Hall confessed to attacking the victim as the victim was riding his eBike in the 2500 block of Zinfandel Drive and Italia Way. The confession came after Hall was captured just after midnight Wednesday by detectives in Shasta Community Park in South Sacramento.
Hall was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on charges of attempted murder. He is being held without bail.
The victim's family identified the victim as 60-year-old Timothy J. Fairall of Rancho Cordova. Fairall was declared brain dead shortly after the assault. He was taken off life support Friday and was declared dead, according to the sheriff's office.
The announcement came after Hall appeared in court on attempted murder charges. The D.A.'s office has not said whether the charges will be updated to murder.
The attack happened around 6:30 p.m. Monday. At first, the call came in as a hit-and-run involving a bicyclist, but first responders later determined that Fairall had been assaulted, according to a sheriff's spokesperson.
"They found the first pool of blood down the street by the elementary school and then they found the body up here," said Zelda Troutman, who lives in the area.
Later, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said it received a call from someone concerned about a family member who had not returned home following a bike ride.
Police say Fairall was able to ride his bike away from Hall for one block before collapsing to the ground.
The crime scene spanned nearly a block for several hours leading into Tuesday. Investigators pieced together what happened as they observed blood stains on the sidewalk and a fire hydrant nearly a block away. At one point, neighbors say the crime scene also included Ahlstrom Park.
As detectives canvassed the area for evidence, residents reacted to the police activity.
"It is kind of scary," Laura Drake said.
"Didn't think too much until I started walking my dogs right now and everything is still kind of blocked off, so it was kind of suspicious that something happened," said Daryl Tsukamoto.
Before Hall fled the area, he left belongings behind on a nearby elementary school campus. That forced police to lock the campus down Tuesday to search each classroom for the suspect or any evidence that could lead to him, say investigators.
Neighbors said they were shocked to see their property turned into a crime scene.
"But something like this and for it to happen in my front yard, really?" Troutman said.
Troutman told CBS13 detectives asked for her home surveillance video to discover how the bloody attack unfolded in her yard.
No further suspects are being sought in the case.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP. Tip information may also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).
