Elk Grove police arrest man suspected of arson and attempted murder

Elk Grove police arrest man suspected of arson and attempted murder

Elk Grove police arrested one man on Tuesday afternoon for arson and attempted murder after he set fire to a home and then fled the area.

The incident happened just before 3 pm in the 8700 block of Valley Oak Lane, down the street from Elk Grove High School. The Cosumnes Fire Department responded to a structure fire. Officers on the scene were informed the fire was intentionally set.

In a post on their Facebook page, the Elk Grove Police Department described the incident:

A little before 3pm, officers and Cosumnes Fire Department responded to a residential fire in the 8700 block of Valley Oak Lane. Officers learned that one of the residents, identified as 37-year-old Shawn Viramontes, lived at the house. Viramontes got into an argument at the house and during that argument threatened the others. After the argument, Viramontes went to his bedroom and intentionally started a fire in his room. Viramontes left the residence on foot. The others in the house saw the smoke coming from the bedroom and were able to get out of the house safely. We started searching the area with the assistance of the air unit for Viramontes.

Based on the information we had at the time, that he was likely in the neighborhood to the east of Elk Grove Florin Road and out of precaution, Markofer Elementary (for those still there after dismissal) was placed on lockdown. Shortly after we located and detained Viramontes in the area of El Oro Plaza Drive and Emerald Park Drive.

No one was injured as a result of the fire and thanks to the efforts of Cosumnes FIre the damage was limited to the residence involved.

Viramontes was arrested for Attempted Homicide, Arson, and Criminal Threats and transported to the main jail.