By
Crystal Carreon and Christina Jewett -- Bee Staff Writers
Photos -- Anne Chadwick Williams
"It's very unfortunate that something came to that, but the fortunate part was that no one else was hurt," said El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Kevin House, whose deputies spotted Clayton before the final shot. "This man ended it the only way he could."
Deputies were called at 8:03 a.m. to the 5300 block of Moonshine Hill Road, less than two miles south of the Clayton family home where Tuesday's murder occurred.
The residents, who knew Clayton, were confronted by the fugitive moments earlier. Clayton, drenched in mud, cold and hungry, broke into the home at the end of the road and confronted the homeowner's girlfriend and his 25-year-old son, Joel Merrill.
"He came inside the home and held a gun to Joel's stomach. He demanded food and water," said Chuck Holland, whose cousin lives at the home.
Holland said Merrill reportedly told Clayton that he could have anything in the home, and Clayton agreed to let Merrill and the woman go.
The pair drove away and soon called for help from an undisclosed location.
Deputies were already in the area, east of Diamond Springs, following an earlier sighting when the 911 call came, alerting them to Clayton's whereabouts on Moonshine Hill Road.
One of the deputies saw Clayton emerge from the rear of the home, House said.
Clayton, carrying boots and socks, ran toward the front of the home where two other deputies drew their guns.
"Drop your gun! El Dorado County Sheriff's Department," they yelled.
Clayton dropped the boots and gloves, then fell to his knees.
"He looked at us dazed," said Deputy Sgt. Tim McNulty.
He positioned the gun against his head and pulled the trigger.
Authorities believe the handgun he used - a .45 caliber - was the same weapon involved in Tuesday's homicide on Cedar Oak Road.
Authorities said Clayton shot to death his 26-year-old son, Royce Clayton and opened fire on his wife, Linda Clayton.
Linda Clayton, who was shot five times and suffered a bullet graze to her
head, remained hospitalized Thursday.
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The body of fugitive Roy Clayton lies under a blue tarp as El Dorado County crime scene investigators wait for the coroner to arrive. Clayton shot himself when confronted by deputies at a home near Diamond Springs. He had been hiding from authorities since Tuesday, when he allegedly shot dead his adult son and critically injured his estranged wife near Placerville.
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