Christopher Dorner

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'''Christopher Dorner''' (June 4, 1979 - February 12, 2013) was a former LAPD [[law enforcement|police officer]] who was fired after filing a report of [[police brutality|excessive force]] against a superior in 2007. After exhausting all legal avenues of appeal, Dorner, who insisted his story was true, decided in February 2013 that the only [[rational]] thing left to do was to declare "unconventional and asymmetric warfare" on the LAPD and proceeded to [[murder]] two people, neither of whom were even police officers. This led the LAPD to declare one of the largest civilian manhunts in US history, during which Dorner killed an additional two police officers (neither of whom worked for the LAPD), culminating in a live-televised siege of a cabin where he was holed up. The siege ended after several hours when the police fired incendiary tear gas grenades into the cabin, setting it on fire;<ref name="CNNpolicechecking">CNN. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130213231402/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/12/police-checking-reports-that-ex-lapd-officer-dorner-sighted/ Police: Body found in cabin in hunt for Dorner]</ref> Dorner subsequently [[suicide|shot himself]].

The incident was arguably the biggest catalyst for the American anti-police movement since the Rodney King beating. Dorner issued a manifesto in which he claimed he was fired then targeted because he exposed the [[racism]] and systemic police brutality that was being [[Coverup|covered up]].<ref>''[[The Huffington Post]]''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130211142534/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/08/dorner-manifesto_n_2644813.html Dorner Manifesto: Suspected Gunman Talks Politics, Pop Culture In His 'Last Resort']</ref> Regardless of whether or not Dorner's claims were true, the manner in which he decided to deal with the problem—killing anyone affiliated with the Los Angeles Police Department—was clearly unacceptable, unethical, and illegal. Dorner's behavior is considered domestic [[terrorism]].<ref>''USA Today''. [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/10/ex-cop-manhunt-continues/1906999/ LAPD: Fugitive ex-cop a 'domestic terrorist']</ref> However, some more radical far-left and [[libertarian]] anti-cop groups hail Dorner as a hero and various [[conspiracy theorist]]s alleged that Dorner was intentionally murdered to cover up what he knew.

The morality of the manhunt was further complicated by the fact that on three occasions, the LAPD opened fire on vehicles they thought were Dorner's but actually contained innocent people; in one incident, two women were wounded.<ref name="Friendly fire">''Orange County Register''. [http://www.ocregister.com/news/police-494979-people-officers.html Police confuse truck for Dorner's, shoot at 3 in Torrance]</ref><ref>''Los Angeles Times''. [http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/09/local/la-me-torrance-shooting-20130210 Police seeking Dorner opened fire in a second case of mistaken identity]</ref> The aggressive behavior of the police led to widespread criticism.<ref name="Protests">''Los Angeles Times''. [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/protesters-show-support-for-christopher-dorner.html Protesters show support for Christopher Dorner]</ref>

==Background==
Dorner grew up in Southern [[California]] and was well-liked, without any incidents of violence.<ref>''The Press-Enterprise''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130211031503/http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20130207-dorner-manhunt-career-woes-perceived-racism-fuel-ex-cops-anger.ece DORNER MANHUNT: Career woes, perceived racism fuel ex-cop’s anger]</ref> He was employed by the Los Angeles Police Department from 2005 to 2008 and served in the United States Navy Reserve. His superior officers described him as rebellious and problematic, and in July 2007, he was given a poor performance review by a superior, Teresa Evans. Dorner subsequently accused Evans of having kicked a mentally disabled suspect in the face during an incident two weeks earlier.<ref>[[CNN]]. [http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/07/us/lapd-attacks-dorner/index.html Suspect's grudge dates back to 2007 complaint]</ref> An investigation found that although the suspect did report being kicked in the face, he could not accurately identify the officer involved, and all witnesses present testified that no brutality occurred.<ref>KTTV Los Angeles. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130211004347/http://www.myfoxla.com/story/21070897/christopher-dorners-legal-documents-challenging-the-lapd DOCUMENTS: Deposition, Legal Papers Against LAPD]]</ref> Dorner's claims were found to be without merit and he was fired for making a false accusation. Dorner appealed the case to the California Superior Court and, when they upheld the ruling, he further appealed, and was again found to have been rightfully terminated.<ref>''Los Angeles Times''. [http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/10/local/la-me-lapd-dorner-20130211 Dorner's LAPD firing case hinged on credibility]</ref>

==Shootings and manhunt==
On February 1, 2013, Anderson Cooper of CNN received a package from Dorner containing what he claimed was evidence of LAPD corruption. Two days later, Dorner shot and killed Monica Quan and her fiance, Keith Lawrence. Quan was the daughter of Randal Quan, who served as Dorner's legal counsel during the dismissal controversy. In his online manifesto, Dorner threatened Quan and his family.<ref>''OC Weekly''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130209182334/http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2013/02/monica_quan_keith_lawrence_mur.php Monica Quan, Titans Basketball Coach, and Fiance Keith Lawrence Found Shot to Death]</ref> Four days later, on February 7, Dorner was spotted by two LAPD police officers on their way to guard a possible target. Dorner exited his vehicle and opened fire on them. This marked the only time during his rampage in which Dorner actually attacked anyone affiliated with the LAPD. Twenty minutes later, Dorner ambushed and shot two Riverside police department officers, killing one. On February 9, the LAPD announced it was re-opening Dorner's firing case.<ref>CNN. [http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/09/us/lapd-attacks/index.html Los Angeles police reopen case that led to fugitive ex-cop's firing]</ref>

===Friendly fire incidents===
In three separate incidents on February 7, police fired on civilian vehicles that they mistakenly thought belonged to Dorner.<ref name="Friendly fire"></ref> In one incident, two women delivering papers were fired on by seven officers; both women were wounded. They later received a $4.2 million settlement.<ref>''Los Angeles Times''. [http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/23/local/la-me-ln-dorner-manhunt-settlement-women20130423 Women shot by LAPD during Dorner manhunt to get settlement]</ref> In another incident, a man driving to the beach had his truck slammed by a police cruiser and subsequently fired on. The man was not struck by any bullets but did suffer injuries from the collision. The city of Torrance initially tried to lowball him with a $500K settlement offer but he rejected this and later settled for $1.8 million over a year later.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-torrance-settlement-dorner-20140724-story.html Torrance surfer shot at during Dorner manhunt to receive $1.8 million ]</ref>

===Cabin standoff===
On February 12, two San Bernardino County police officers encountered Dorner at Big Bear Lake, east of Los Angeles. Dorner fired on them, killing one officer. He then barricaded himself inside a cabin. A media circus unfolded outside, with live footage being broadcast of the shootout between Dorner and the police. As the event occurred, various pro-Dorner hashtags began trending nationally on Twitter.<ref>''The Huffington Post''. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/08/christopher-dorner-fans-facebook-twitter_n_2647754.html Christopher Dorner Fans On Facebook, Twitter Call Alleged Cop Killer A 'Hero,' Citing Police Brutality]</ref> After several hours, the police began firing incendiary tear gas canisters into the cabin; shortly afterward the cabin was engulfed in flames.<ref name="CNNpolicechecking"/> At which point Dorner killed himself. The cabin fire subsequently cooked off his ammunition and charred his remains.

==Supporters and conspiracy theories==
Dorner's seemingly peaceful behavior and steadfast insistence that he had been wrongfully persecuted lit a flame under the anti-police movement within the US. Protests were held outside the LAPD headquarters.<ref name="Protests"></ref> Naturally, conspiracy theorists went rabid over Dorner. Almost immediately there were claims that he was either set up or [[false flag|never existed]], that he was intentionally murdered because of what he knew, or even that he survived the stand-off. Websites like [[Reddit]] and 4chan served as major hubs for conspiratorial claims about Dorner.<ref>''The Huffington Post''. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/christopher-dorner-conspiracy-theories-swirl-body-unidentified_n_2688517.html Christopher Dorner Conspiracy Theories Abound Over Body In Cabin]</ref> Internet [[meme]]s like "Can't corner the Dorner" became hallmarks of Dorner's supporters among the more anti-cop parts of the internet.<ref>Know Your Meme. [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/chris-dorner-manhunt Chris Dorner Manhunt]</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:California]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:Crime]]
[[Category:Terrorism]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]

Categories: California, Conspiracy theories, Crime, Terrorism, Terrorists