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CNN Live At Daybreak

Deadly End to Suspected Killer of Five

Aired September 10, 2001 - 07:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back to Sacramento now, because we've been reporting on this deadly end to a killing spree there. The suspect in five killings took his own life this morning. And for some insight into how the situation ended we turn now to Lt. Sam Somers of the Sacramento Police Department. Lieutenant, thanks for being with us.

LT. SAM SOMERS, SACRAMENTO POLICE: No problem, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, why don't you go ahead and tell us how it did finally come to an end. Was there a matter of negotiation here until he finally took his own life?

SOMERS: Well, first of all, we have to thank the media because they helped put out the information on the vehicle that the suspect was in and subsequent to that, we had a private citizen call in to the California Highway Patrol and say that they were actually following the suspect and the vehicle.

That led the local law enforcement agencies here, and that's the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, to converge on the suspect. Upon seeing our units getting close to him, he immediately began a pursuit, which ended into a gun battle between ourselves and him. And during that gun battle, the sus -- Mr. Ferguson ultimately shot himself, which is what we believe at this time, gave himself a self- inflicted gunshot wound.

PHILLIPS: So, Lieutenant, what do you know about this man, Ferguson?

SOMERS: Well, the information we have right now, he was a Burns security officer who was on suspension. He had had a break-up with a girlfriend approximately a month ago and it is believed that he committed a vandalism against her about a week ago.

PHILLIPS: He was awful young. How old?

SOMERS: He was 20 years of age.

PHILLIPS: Did he have a rap sheet?

SOMERS: I don't think we have any information pertaining to any history we have with him. The only thing of note was we did serve a search warrant at his residence, which was also his father's residence, and located some white supremacist paraphernalia and then some additional weapons that were at that location.

PHILLIPS: Were you able to talk with his father, Lieutenant, to find out more about him and how involved he was with this white supremacist organization?

SOMERS: Well, we had extensive interviews with the father. He was extremely cooperative and was very helpful in this investigation from the beginning until it concluded here. And, you know, in regard to the specifics on the white supremacist, I don't have any information at this time.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's got to be tough on that parent. It would be on any parent.

Lieutenant Sam Somers, thanks so much for joining us and kind of updating us on the situation.

SOMERS: You're very welcome.

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