Dorner manhunt finished

Medical examiners confirmed that the human remains found by authorities on Tuesday were that of former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Dorner, according to CNN.

The positive identification of Dorner’s body came two days after a deadly shootout between Dorner and authorities, followed by a fire in the Big Bear cabin where Dorner’s remains were found. Dorner’s dental records were used to confirm his identity.

The 11-day manhunt for Dorner concluded with a total of four deaths, beginning with the double homicide of former Dept. of Public Safety officer Keith Lawrence and his fiancee, Monica Quan. The couple’s bodies were discovered in a parked car near their Irvine home. Quan was the daughter of LAPD Capt. Randal Quan, Dorner’s police union representative who represented him prior to his dismissal from the LAPD.

Dorner was also the primary suspect in the murder of Riverside police officer Michael Crain, who was killed on Feb. 7 in an ambush allegedly by Dorner. Crain’s partner was injured in the ambush.

Dorner’s final victim was San Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah MacKay, who was killed in the final shootout between Dorner and police on Feb. 12. A second deputy was injured in the shootout, but is expected to survive his injuries. In total, three people were wounded.

The cause for Dorner’s rage appears to be explained in his 14-page online manifesto, in which he cited his dismissal from the LAPD and the lack of improvement within the department toward since the 1992 Los Angeles riots as reasons for his attacks. In 2009, Dorner was fired for falsely accusing his training officer of kicking a subdued suspect. Though Dorner challenged the dismissal, he was ultimately unsuccessful.

Dorner dedicated most of his manifesto to the issue of race, noting various instances throughout his upbringing and his time in the LAPD that contributed to his 40-person hit list. Quan’s father was named in the manifesto, as well as numerous other members of the LAPD.

In response to the manifesto, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced on Feb. 9 that the LAPD would re-examine the details leading to Dorner’s termination from the department.

During the LAPD’s pursuit of Dorner, the city of Los Angeles issued a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture. Twenty-nine donors contributed to the reward, including USC President C. L. Max Nikias. What is going to be done with the reward is still under debate.

“More than 20 jurisdictions and entities are involved in this reward, so all of them will be coming together to collectively determine whether any individual or individuals qualify for it,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Beck said in a joint statement. “Our personal hope is that the reward will be distributed, but we must follow the rules and respect the procedures of each entity.”