Southern California residents are reacting to the news that a former LAPD officer and Navy reservist went on a planned killing spree this week, claiming several lives and critically injuring several more. A statewide manhunt is currently underway for Christopher Dorner, the accused gunman. Dorner wrote a chilling 20-paged manifesto over the weekend which contained political commentary, threats against officers and their families, and reasons he felt his actions were “necessary.” The manifesto, posted on Dorners Facebook page, seemed to indicate severe mental illness or impairment. Police say Dorner carried out the first stages of his plan late Sunday night.
On Sunday night, Dorner reportedly shot and killed Monica Quan, and her fiancé Keith Lawrence as they arrived home. Both were employees of California Universities. Quan was the assistant basketball coach at Cal State Fullerton; Lawrence was a campus officer at USC. They met playing basketball at Concordia University. Their bodies were discovered in their vehicle. Quan is the daughter of former LAPD captain Randy Quan, who was Dorner’s legal representative during administrative hearings which led to his termination in 2009 from the LAPD.
Dorner was terminated after allegedly making false statements regarding his training officer, whom he accused of kicking a schizophrenic suspect in their custody. Family members of the suspect corroborated the claim, but the accused officer denied it. An investigation determined that Dorner was lying, and he was terminated. Randy Quan was mentioned several times throughout the manifesto. Quan served as chief of police at Cal Poly University, Pomona after retiring as captain from the LAPD and prior to pursuing a career in law. In the manifesto, Dorner indicated that Quan’s daughter would be targeted due to the strained relationships in his own family following his termination. The LA Times reported that Dorner wrote in the manifesto, “I’ve lost a relationship with my mother and sister because of the LAPD. I’ve lost a relationship with close friends because of the LAPD. I’ll be waiting for a public response at a press conference. When the truth comes out, the killing stops.” It appears that Dorner intends to keep killing officers until he feels vindicated by his termination.
Cal Poly Pomona spokesperson Dan Lee released a statement saying “We want to extend our deepest sympathies to Randy Quan on the loss of his daughter. Randy was Cal Poly Pomona’s police chief from Oct. 1, 2002 to April 8, 2003. The campus has received no direct threats, but university police are conducting high-visibility patrols, like all public safety organizations in Southern California, and the community is urged to report any suspicious activity. Classes remain open.”
Other affected campuses did not immediately return calls for statements.
Unfortunately, the tragedy did not end there. Last night, Dorner allegedly struck again, firing at officers in Riverside. One was killed, the other critically wounded. Dorner is believed to have fled to San Diego, where his badge and ID were discovered.
Sheriff candidate for San Bernardino Paul Schrader gave a comment, saying “My heart goes out to the families of the victims who have been harmed by Christopher Jordan Dorner. Since I’ve been a Peace Officer for over 29 years, when I see something where Law Enforcement Officers and their families are targeted with violence, it makes me rethink my personal security. Also after reading Christopher Jordan Dorner’s manifesto coupled with his violent homicidal behavior it’s obvious he is mentally ill. This is a sad day for California.”
The statements made by Dorner in the manifesto indeed indicate a sense of lost control, homicidal insanity, and obsession with retribution. He is considered heavily armed, highly irrational, and extremely dangerous.
While Dorner remains at large, police are seeking help from the public in locating him. He was last seen driving a Blue Nissan Titan, license plate 7X03191.
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