Charred body found after US manhunt for Christopher Dorner
Charred body found after US manhunt for Christopher Dorner
(about 3 hours later)
Police say they have found charred remains in the rubble of a burnt-down cabin where a murder suspect had been hiding.
California police say they have found a body in a burnt-out cabin where murder suspect Christopher Dorner is believed to have made his deadly last stand.
Ex-policeman Christopher Dorner, accused of killing three people, was thought to have barricaded himself in and exchanged fire with police.
The 33-year-old former policeman is thought to have exchanged fire with police after barricading himself in.
A single gunshot was later heard inside the building, which then began to burn.
A single gunshot was later heard inside the building, which then began to burn.
Forensic tests are to be carried out to determine if the remains are those of Mr Dorner.
One officer was killed and another injured during the shoot-out. Dorner is also accused earlier of shooting dead a young couple and a police officer.
The gunman had reportedly sworn revenge on police officers he blamed for his sacking in 2008.
Forensic tests will determine if the charred remains found in the razed cabin after Tuesday night's siege are those of Dorner.
The gunman had sworn revenge on police officers he blamed for his sacking in 2008.
'Bittersweet night'
The search moved to the area of Big Bear Lake, a ski resort 80 miles (130km) east of Los Angeles, last Thursday after the suspect's burnt-out truck was found there.
The search moved to the area of Big Bear Lake, a ski resort 80 miles (130km) east of Los Angeles, last Thursday after the suspect's burnt-out truck was found there.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller said charred remains had been found inside the burnt-out cabin, where Mr Dorner is believed to have been holed up, the Associated Press reports.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's spokeswoman Cynthia Bachman said of the remains: "We have reason to believe that it is him."
One officer was killed and another injured in the shoot-out with the suspect at the cabin.
An officer briefed on the investigation told the Associated Press news agency that a driver's licence naming Dorner was found in the burned cabin with the body.
Reports say the police then fired tear gas into the building and used a loudspeaker to urge the gunman to surrender.
But Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said he was not considering the situation over until tests confirmed the remains were Dorner's.
"It is a bittersweet night," Mr Beck told the Los Angeles Times.
Tuesday's shoot-out began when officials from California's wildlife agency were searching for a car reported stolen in the area.
A woman told police she had been tied up by the suspect when she and another woman had entered an empty house to clean it. She managed to get free, but he had stolen the car.
As wildlife officials searched for that stolen car, a different pickup truck sped erratically towards the officials, department spokesman Lt Patrick Foy said, with the driver firing on them.
After the truck ran off the road and crashed into a snow bank, a man matching Dorner's description was seen running to a cabin where he barricaded himself in.
$1m reward
Reports say the police fired tear gas into the building and used a loudspeaker to urge the gunman to surrender.
Officials used a demolition vehicle to tear down the walls of the cabin.
Shortly afterwards, a single gunshot was heard inside the building and a fire began to spread through the cabin.
Shortly afterwards, a single gunshot was heard inside the building and a fire began to spread through the cabin.
At an earlier news conference, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Cindy Bachman said police believed the man barricaded inside the cabin was Mr Dorner.
Los Angeles police officials had offered a $1m (£630,000) reward for information leading to Dorner's arrest, receiving more than 1,000 tips.
LA officials had offered a $1m (£630,000) reward for information leading to Mr Dorner's arrest.
The former Navy reservist is suspected of killing three people in a spree across southern California, including a policeman.
The authorities earlier said that the former officer with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was suspected of killing three people, including a policeman.
Police have been protecting about 50 families, many belonging to former LAPD colleagues, against whom Dorner had vowed revenge for allegedly ruining his career.
Police have been protecting about 50 families, many belonging to former LAPD colleagues, against whom Mr Dorner had vowed revenge for allegedly ruining his career.
He was fired for making false statements, after making a complaint against his field training officer, saying she had kicked a suspect during an arrest.
In an online manifesto, Mr Dorner, a former US Navy reservist, suggested that racism was rife in the LAPD.
In an online manifesto, Dorner suggested that racism was rife in the LAPD.
At the weekend, the LAPD's chief of police said the department would re-examine the case that led to Dorner losing his job, a key grievance in the suspect's online essay.
He said the move was to demonstrate transparency and "not to appease a murderer".
Sunday 3 Feb: Monica Quan (pictured), 28, and Keith Lawrence, 27, were found shot dead in Irvine. Ms Quan, was the daughter of a former Los Angeles police captain who had represented Mr Dorner in disciplinary hearings that resulted in his dismissal in 2008.
Sunday 3 Feb: Monica Quan (pictured), 28, and Keith Lawrence, 27, were found shot dead in Irvine. Ms Quan, was the daughter of a former Los Angeles police captain who had represented Mr Dorner in disciplinary hearings that resulted in his dismissal in 2008.
San Diego
San Diego
Wednesday 6 Feb: At around 22:30, a man matching the description of Mr Dorner (pictured) tried to steal a 47-foot boat from a San Diego marina, but the engine wouldn't start. An 81-year-old man on the boat was tied up but unhurt.
Wednesday 6 Feb: At around 22:30, a man matching the description of Mr Dorner (pictured) tried to steal a 47-foot boat from a San Diego marina, but the engine wouldn't start. An 81-year-old man on the boat was tied up but unhurt.
Corona
Corona
Thursday 7 Feb: At 01:30, two LAPD officers assigned to protect a person named in Mr Dorner's "manifesto" chased a vehicle they believed was Mr Dorner's in Corona. One officer was injured during a shootout, and the gunman fled.
Thursday 7 Feb: At 01:30, two LAPD officers assigned to protect a person named in Mr Dorner's "manifesto" chased a vehicle they believed was Mr Dorner's in Corona. One officer was injured during a shootout, and the gunman fled.
Riverside
Riverside
Thursday 7 Feb: Shortly after the shootout in Corona, a gunman believed to be Mr Dorner ambushed two Riverside police officers who had stopped at a red light. One officer was killed and the other critically injured.
Thursday 7 Feb: Shortly after the shootout in Corona, a gunman believed to be Mr Dorner ambushed two Riverside police officers who had stopped at a red light. One officer was killed and the other critically injured.
Torrance
Torrance
Thursday 7 Feb: At 05:15, LAPD officers guarding a target in Torrance identified in Mr Dorner's "manifesto" opened fire on a truck they mistakenly believed to be Mr Dorner's. Two women were wounded. Shortly afterwards, Torrance police shot at a second truck they mistook for Mr Dorner's. Nobody was hurt.
Thursday 7 Feb: At 05:15, LAPD officers guarding a target in Torrance identified in Mr Dorner's "manifesto" opened fire on a truck they mistakenly believed to be Mr Dorner's. Two women were wounded. Shortly afterwards, Torrance police shot at a second truck they mistook for Mr Dorner's. Nobody was hurt.
Shooting at Big Bear Lake
Shooting at Big Bear Lake
Wednesday 13 Feb: The charred remains of a body, believed to be that of Christopher Dorner, are found in a burnt-out cabin at Big Bear Lake ski resort, after a shoot-out. One officer was killed and another injured. The search moved to the area after a truck belonging to the suspect was found there.
Wednesday 13 Feb: The charred remains of a body, believed to be that of Christopher Dorner, are found in a burnt-out cabin at Big Bear Lake ski resort, after a shoot-out. One officer was killed and another injured. The search moved to the area after a truck belonging to the suspect was found there.
