Placer Sheriff’s Office seeks possible witnesses in Rocklin fentanyl homicide
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sheriff’s investigators are looking for a black SUV seen Aug. 21 in a Rocklin parking lot.
- Anyone inside the SUV might have witnessed events leading to a fentanyl death.
- The Placer County Sheriff’s asked anyone with information to call 530-889-7853.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office on Monday asked for the public’s help in locating the occupants of a black SUV who may have witnessed events leading up to a fentanyl-related homicide earlier this year in Rocklin.
The SUV, possibly a Toyota 4Runner or similar model, was seen about 3:30 p.m. Aug. 21 in a parking lot at 4415 Granite Drive, a small shopping center just north of Interstate 80 in Rocklin.
The Sheriff’s Office released a short video clip on social media showing the SUV captured by security cameras at the shopping center. Officials said the video quality is limited due to the distance between the vehicle and the camera, but locating the people inside the SUV could be vital to advancing the investigation.
A 29-year-old Rocklin man died in the Loomis-area incident, said Elise Soviar, a sheriff’s spokesperson. Authorities have not released the man’s name or any further details about his death.
Fentanyl is a powerful and potentially addictive drug that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Drug dealers often mix fentanyl with other substances, such as heroin, methamphetamine or cocaine, because of its potency and low cost. This increases the risk of a fatal overdose, the DEA warns. Users may unknowingly consume fentanyl-laced pills marketed as Xanax, Percocet, or oxycodone. Fentanyl also is found in powder form and in vape pens.
Several high-profile criminal cases in the Sacramento region have involved social media platforms like Snapchat, where young people used the apps to sell or obtain fentanyl.
In recent years, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office has filed homicide charges against people accused of providing fentanyl to someone who later died from using the synthetic opioid. The Sheriff’s Office has an Opioid Response Team that’s made up of investigators focused on opioid-related crimes, particularly fentanyl-related homicide investigations.
Investigators urged anyone who recognizes the black SUV or knows who owns it to contact the Sheriff’s tip line at 530-889-7853.
