Capital Murder Charge Filed Against Dorner In Death Of Riverside Officer
RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — Charges were filed Monday against former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner, who has been the focus of an intense manhunt throughout Southern California.
Dorner, 33, has been charged with four counts, including three counts of attempted murder of a peace officer and one count, with two special circumstance allegations, of the murder of a peace officer, making Dorner eligible for the death penalty. A no-bail warrant for Dorner's arrest has also been issued.
Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbech urged the public to be vigilant.
Charges Filed Against Christopher Dorner
"As they say, there is strength in numbers. We need the help of the public. We need all of the public's eyes and ears in assisting law enforcement in apprehending this very dangerous individual," Zellerbech said.
»COMPLETE COVERAGE: SoCal Manhunt
Dorner, who was named as a suspect in the murder of a former LAPD captain's daughter and her fiancé in Irvine, allegedly ambushed a Riverside police officer and his trainee on Feb. 7 as they sat in their marked patrol car. One officer, 11-year veteran Officer Michael Crain, was killed and the second officer was seriously wounded.
Dorner is also suspected of shooting at two LAPD officers, grazing one, in Corona while they were on their way to a protective detail.
It's rare for charges to be filed against a suspect who hasn't been arrested yet, but Zellerbech was emphatic about its necessity.
"By filing the criminal complaint and also obtaining the no-bail arrest warrant for him, that allows us to apprehend him anywhere in the state, anywhere in the country, anywhere in the world," Zellerbech said.
A $1 million reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Dorner. Anyone who sees Dorner was urged to call 911 because he is considered armed and dangerous.
No charges have yet been filed against Dorner in connection with the Orange County murders.
