Los Angeles: Police swarmed into a California ski resort searching for an ex-cop accused of killing three people, including another officer, after posting chilling online threats to kill more.
Officials confirmed that a burnt-out pickup truck found in woods near Big Bear belonged to Christopher Dorner, 33, as armed officers fanned out in the manhunt in hopes of finding him as night fell.
Police were also going door to door in the resort, a popular destination two hours east of Los Angeles for Angelenos and other California who stay in rented cabins and hotels.
“We’ll keep working on it until we’re able to either locate the suspect, or determine that he’s no longer in the Big Bear Valley,” said San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon, as schools and ski lifts were put on lockdown.
It also emerged that Dorner had sent a package a week ago to CNN host Anderson Cooper, with a note saying “I never lied,” a DVD, and a coin shot thru with bullet holes, the news anchor said on Twitter.
Dorner was wanted over Sunday’s suspected revenge killing of a couple, Keith Lawrence and Monica Quan. The woman was the daughter of Randy Quan, a retired police officer Dorner blamed for his firing five years ago.
The suspect then allegedly attacked two other officers overnight Wednesday in Riverside, killing one and injuring the other. Another officer was injured in a separate incident in nearby Corona.
In addition, two civilians were injured early Thursday when police officers opened fire on them in a vehicle they believed to be Dorner’s.
In an Internet manifesto threatening police and their families, Dorner had warned about “terminating” Quan and called lesbians and Asians “high-value” targets.
“I will bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare to those in LAPD uniform whether on or off duty,” he said.
The LA Police Department, backed by agencies including the FBI, said it was protecting over 40 possible targets, some of them identified in the “rambling” online manifesto by Dorner, a US Navy reservist.
“Dorner is considered to be armed and extremely dangerous,” LAPD chief Charlie Beck told a press conference, adding that the suspect has “multiple weapons at his disposal, including assault rifles.”
Dorner’s wallet and an ID badge were found overnight in San Diego, two hours south of Los Angeles, police said, while there also reports of police searches in neighboring Nevada, where he has a house near Las Vegas.
Shortly after midday, authorities in Big Bear put schools and a ski area on lockdown, after the pickup truck matching the description of Dorner’s was found in nearby woods.
TV pictures showed armed police apparently fanning out across a mountain slope, although the LAPD quickly asked broadcasters not to show live footage, to avoid giving Dorner help if he was monitoring the media.
Dorner posted his manifesto online Monday, saying he was not afraid to die because he had already in effect died when he was dismissed in September 2008 for making false statements about his training officer.
“I never had the opportunity to have a family of my own, (so) I am terminating yours,” he wrote to Quan.
“Suppressing the truth will (lead) to deadly consequences for you and your family. There will be an element of surprise where you work, live, eat and sleep,” he added, referring to Quan and several others.
Dorner is described as black, six feet (1.80 meters) tall and 270 pounds (120 kilograms) in weight.
CNN’s Cooper said he only became aware of the package from Dorner on Thursday, although it arrived at his office on February 1. The coin was one given by renowned ex LA police chief Will Bratton, as an honor to officers.
Beck, the LAPD chief, said Dorner’s police and military training made the threat all the more serious.
“He knows what he’s doing. We trained him… he’s also a member of the armed forces,” Beck said..
“It is extremely worrisome and scary.”
Asked what message he wanted to give Dorner, Beck said: “I would tell him to turn himself in. This has gone far enough.
“Nobody else needs to die.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription