Deputies: Man Shot At Deputies, House Caught Fire During Domestic Dispute Investigation
EL DORADO COUNTY (CBS13) — What started as a relatively routine domestic disturbance call ended with shots fired at officers and a home up in flames.
El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies dodged danger, responding to a domestic dispute between a man and a woman.
As they were interviewing the woman, investigators say the man inside the Cameron Park home, 44-year-old Michael Hoffer, opened fire with a rifle.
Deputies returned fire, but no one was hit in the exchange.
Moments later, the home erupted in flames. sending embers onto neighbors' homes. Neighbors described the flames going 100 feet in to the air.
With no sign of the suspect, and knowing he was armed, fire crews kept their distance and deputies called ordered neighbors to stay inside.
Hoffer was found on the side of the road later. He was booked on charges of assault on a peace officer, attempted murder, and felony domestic battery.
The female victim was out of the home before it caught fire.
Investigators aren't saying how the fire started.