CAMERON PARK—A Cal Fire captain has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting a woman and child inside a Cameron Park home late Thursday, authorities said Friday.
Deputies with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office were called to a residence in the 3000 block of Oakwood Road around 9 p.m. for reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found a woman who had died from gunshot wounds and a child critically injured. The child was given immediate medical attention and transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
“The juvenile was provided immediate medical care and transported to a local area hospital where he was unfortunately pronounced deceased,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement recieved by Folsom Times. The department confirmed that second child inside the home was found safe, according to officials.
Detectives quickly identified 47-year-old Darin McFarlin as a suspect in the killings. With assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Mono County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol, McFarlin was located several hours later in Mono County, nearly four hours from the crime scene. Authorities said he was taken into custody without incident shortly after midnight.
McFarlin was transported back to El Dorado County and booked into jail around 5:30 a.m. Friday. He faces two counts of murder and is being held without bail. He is expected to make his first appearance in El Dorado County Superior Court next week.
McFarlin is listed as a captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has worked since 2000 as part of the Amador-El Dorado Unit. Cal Fire confirmed Friday that it was aware of his arrest but said it could not comment further, referring inquiries to the Sheriff’s Office.
The identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of family members by the El Dorado County Coroner’s Office. Investigators have not released information on the relationship between McFarlin and the victims, and a possible motive has not been disclosed.
The double homicide remains under active investigation, with detectives continuing to interview witnesses and examine evidence from both the Cameron Park residence and McFarlin’s arrest location. Officials have not said whether additional arrests or charges are anticipated.
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