David Machado
36-year-old David Machado currently in custody after engaging in alleged 100-mile crime spree. Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department

Violence in California is getting out of hand as more offenders are being put behind bars. In the latest incident, a Central California man has been arrested after engaging in a 100-mile crime spree that has left a man dead.

According to FOX News Latino, the man who has been identified as David Machado, shot and murdered Stanislaus County Sheriff Deputy Dennis Wallace. Wallace who was reportedly checking on a report of a suspicious van parked near a fishing access spot outside the city of Hughson was murdered in cold blood.

"We believe that Deputy Wallace was killed outside of the car, and we know for a fact that the gun used in this crime was in direct contact with his head when the trigger was pulled twice," Sheriff Adam Christianson told a news conference. "This was an execution."

The site reports that Wallace was alone on his pursuit of the suspicious van Sunday morning. A dispatcher told him that the vehicle was reported stolen, so he asked for backup. After the incident, another deputy found Wallace's body a short time later.

During the 100-mile crime spree, the 36-year-old committed an armed robbery in Lindsay, 150 miles from where the shooting occurred and attempted to steal a women's purse at a convenience store.

The woman fought back and called the police. Machado was later caught by officers a short time later.

Wallace is the fifth law enforcement officer in California to die in the line of duty in the last five weeks. The slaying comes after a deputy in Modoc County was killed while responding to a call about a disturbance, two Palm Springs police officers were shot to death during a domestic disturbance call, and a Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant was shot and killed in the high-desert town of Lancaster while answering a burglary call.

There is no word on exactly what charges Machado will be facing or if he will be taking a plea deal.

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.