Chief Sergio Diaz of the Riverside, California Police Department announced that Patrol Officer Michael Crain, 34, was shot and killed as he and his partner were stopped at a red light.  The ambush style shooting occurred at the intersection of Magnolia and Arlington Avenues in the city of Riverside at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.  The identity of this officer was released later than usual due to the ongoing investigation of his assailant.
 
The suspect is believed to be ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner who opened fire on their patrol vehicle fatally wounding Officer Crain and critically wounding his partner. Following the shooting, the suspect posted an online manifesto admitting to the shooting as well as two other shootings that resulted in the deaths of Monica Quan and Kevin Lawrence in Irvine.
 
Dorner, who remains at large, has vowed to seek revenge on many LAPD officers he feels responsible for his dismissal from the department.  Dorner has also opened fire on other police officers as targets of opportunity.  The region wide search for Dorner continues.
 
Officer Michael Crain was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who had been deployed twice to Kuwait in the late 1990's and early 2000.  He served with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.  He was an instructor at USMC Camp Pendleton specializing in Military Operations in Urban Terrain.
 
Officer Crain served the Riverside Police Department for 11 years as a SWAT officer, Field Training Officer, Firearm Instructor and Tactical Flight Officer in the helicopter Aviation Section.
 
Officer Crain is survived by his wife, Regina, their son, Ian, 10, and daughter, Kaitlyn, who is 4 years old.
 
Officer Michael Crain, gone but never forgotten.   EOW: Thursday, February 7, 2013
 
Image created by Fellow Officer Rose Borisow
 
Learn more here:
 
http://military.blogs.mydesert.com/2013/02/10/officer-allegedly-killed-by-manhunt-suspect-was-usmc-vet/
 
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/10/searchers-struggle-to-pick-up-trail-former-los-angeles-cop-wanted-in-killing/
 
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=8987849