By UPDATE: The manhunt for former Los Angeles police officer, Christopher Dorner, is still underway in Big Bear Lake. At a press conference earlier today, San Bernardino County Sherriff John McMahon said police will continue their search for Dorner in the mountains until they find him or find that he is no longer in the area.
According to a press release by the Big Bear Lake Resort Association, in spite of the manhunt for Dorner, businesses in Big Bear Lake are still open.
While the search is mainly focused in the Big Bear area, authorities throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and Northern Mexico are also on alert, according to CBS.
A statewide manhunt has been issued this morning for Christopher Dorner, the suspect wanted for the homicide of former Long Beach State basketball player Monica Quan.
San Bernardino County Sherriff John McMahon said in a press conference that the car of Christopher Dorner, suspect of former LBSU basketball player Monica Quan’s homicide and three other shootings this morning, has been identified in Big Bear County. Authorities said they believe he was driving a blue, 2005 Nissan Titan pickup with the California license plate 7X03191.
Dorener is suspected to be on foot in the Big Bear area. Multiple forces, including the LAPD and the FBI, are in pursuit of Dorner.
“We are doing everything we can in attempt to search the area and to find him,” McMahon said.
Dorner, an ex-Los Angeles Police Department officer, is suspected to be connected to three shootings that took place today, according to Irvine City Police Department Lt. Julia Engen. Two Riverside police officers, one murdered and the other in critical condition, were shot as well as an LAPD officer who received a graze wound to the head in San Bernardino County, Engen said.
Dorner’s whereabouts are still unknown.
He is also the prime suspect in the homicide of former LBSU women’s basketball player Monica Quan and her fiancé, Keith Lawrence. Quan and Lawrence were found shot to death in a parking structure in Irvine on Sunday.
Quan’s father, retired LAPD Captain Randy Quan, played a role in the review process that resulted in Dorner’s 2009 dismissal from the LAPD, according to the Los Angeles Times. The LAPD supposedly dismissed Dorner for “making false statements about his training officer,” according to the LA Times.
Dorner posted a lengthy manifesto to his Facebook page, detailing his complaints against the LAPD, officers he will be targeting and promising “unconventional and asymmetric warfare” against on and off-duty police officers, according to the LA Times.
“Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil that I do not enjoy but must partake and complete for substantial change to occur within the LAPD and reclaim my name,” Dorner said in the manifesto.
Dorner’s manifesto lists threats for more than two dozen people, who have been put under the protection of officers from around Southern California, according to the LA Times.
Some of the targeted individuals have been relocated for their safety.
Police officials were included in Dorner’s list of targets, according to the LA Times.
“Your lack of ethics and conspiring to wrong a just individual are over,” Dorner wrote in his manifesto, which was posted on KTLA’s website this morning. “There will be an element of surprise where you work, live, eat, and sleep.”
Dorner is thought to be armed and extremely dangerous. He is described as six feet tall, 270 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.
Cal State Long Beach Police Captain Scott Brown said that University Police is on tactical alert and has increased the number of working officers on campus from four to eight. University Police is also working closely with the Long Beach Police Department, Brown said.
Irvine Police Chief Dave Maggard suggests calling 911 if Dorner is seen. If any information regarding his whereabouts are discovered, Maggard suggests calling Irvine’s tip line (949) 724-7192, or emailing ipdcrimetips@cityofirvine.org.
