Christopher Dorner was a former officer of the Los Angeles Police Department who, in February 2013, became the subject of a regional police operation over the deaths of four people: a couple in Irvine, a Riverside police officer and a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy. Three officers were wounded. The deaths are attributed to him by the police agencies involved and by the San Bernardino County District Attorney. He was charged in Riverside County, was never tried, and died on February 12, 2013, in San Bernardino County.
Dorner was terminated by the Los Angeles Police Department in 2008. A Board of Rights, the department's disciplinary tribunal, had found that an allegation he made against another officer was untrue and ordered his termination. He appealed. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge affirmed the dismissal in 2010, and the Court of Appeal later did the same.
On February 3, 2013, a couple, Monica Quan and Keith Lawrence, were found dead in Irvine, in Orange County. On February 6, Irvine police named Dorner as a suspect in the double homicide. A statement attributed to him had been posted online on February 4.
On February 7 an officer of the Riverside Police Department, Michael Crain, was killed in Riverside County. Other officers were wounded that day in Riverside and Corona. Three officers were wounded in all across the three counties.
On February 8, 2013, Orange County prosecutors prepared a criminal complaint against Dorner for the deaths of the couple: two felony counts of murder, with special-circumstance allegations and a sentencing enhancement. The office held the complaint back, in its words "in the interest of public safety, and for tactical and investigative purposes," until Dorner was in custody. It has said it would likely have sought the death penalty.
The Riverside County District Attorney announced charges on Monday, February 11, 2013: the murder of the Riverside officer and the attempted murder of three other officers. A no-bail warrant was issued. The charges made Dorner eligible for the death penalty.
On February 12, 2013, in San Bernardino County, a sheriff's detective, Jeremiah MacKay, was killed and a deputy was seriously wounded. Dorner died by suicide the same day, as the coroner found.
After the events, the Los Angeles Police Department reopened the case of Dorner's discharge. On June 21, 2013, the department published a review by a special assistant to the chief, which concluded that the discharge was justified and "was not only appropriate, it was the only course the Department could have taken based on the facts and evidence." The same day the Police Commission's Office of Inspector General reported that the Board of Rights' findings "were not improper." It noted that the Superior Court had found the evidence did not resolve whether the alleged incident that Dorner had reported took place, so that the outcome rested on the Board's assessment of credibility, which was within its authority.
On February 11, 2014, the San Bernardino County District Attorney released a review of the law enforcement response on February 12, 2013, which found the officers' use of force legally justified.
Dorner was never tried and entered no plea. No court has ruled on the four deaths, which are attributed to him by the authorities and covered in part by the Riverside charges. The Orange County complaint was prepared but never filed.
2008: Dorner is terminated by the Los Angeles Police Department.
2010: A Los Angeles Superior Court judge affirms the dismissal; the Court of Appeal later affirms it.
February 3, 2013: A couple is found dead in Irvine.
February 4, 2013: A statement attributed to Dorner is posted online.
February 6, 2013: Irvine police name Dorner as a suspect.
February 7, 2013: A Riverside police officer is killed; officers are wounded in Riverside and Corona.
February 8, 2013: Orange County prosecutors prepare a murder complaint.
February 11, 2013: Riverside County prosecutors announce murder and attempted murder charges.
February 12, 2013: A sheriff's detective dies and a deputy is wounded in San Bernardino County; Dorner dies the same day.
June 21, 2013: The LAPD review and the Inspector General's report find the discharge justified.
February 11, 2014: The San Bernardino County District Attorney releases its report on the response.