'Armed And Dangerous' Homicide Suspect May Be In Northern California, Police Say

A man suspected in the shooting death of an Arizona man on Sunday may be in Sacramento or Oregon, police officials said. Before he was identified as a suspect, Caleb Bartels, 27, who is considered armed and dangerous, was stopped by police in Arizona, Utah and Nevada and believed to be headed to Northern California or the Portland metro area of Oregon. Police were not able to explain Bartels' connection to Sacramento or Oregon due to the nature of the investigation.

During the early morning hours on Jan. 15, police in Tempe, Arizona, responded to a home to investigate a report of shots fired and discovered Ryne Zahner, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said he was later pronounced dead.

After further investigation, detectives identified Bartels as a suspect and obtained a nationwide emergency warrant for charges of homicide, criminal damage, burglary and aggravated assault through the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Sacramento police are actively searching for Bartels. Anyone with information should contact their local police department immediately.

Photo courtesy Tempe Police Department