Fired Cop Suspected in Shooting of Young Irvine Couple

A fired Los Angeles Police Department officer was identified tonight as the suspect in the fatal shootings of a college basketball coach and her fiance in an Irvine parking garage

Christopher Jordan Dorner of La Palma was represented in the hearing that resulted in his firing by Randy Quan, the father of Monica Quan, slain with Keith Lawrence, Irvine Police Department Chief David Maggard said at a news conference tonight.

Dorner posted a multi-page manifesto online Monday, saying he didn't mind dying, because he died on Jan. 2, 2009, the day he was fired from the LAPD, Maggard said.

Dorner blamed Randy Quan, a retired Los Angeles Police Department officer, for his firing.

"I never had the opportunity to have a family of my own ... (so) I am terminating yours," Dorner wrote to Randy Quan.

The LAPD's elite Metropolitan squad was sent to protect others mentioned in Dorner's manifesto.

Dorner is 6 feet tall and weighs 270 pounds, and was driving a blue 2005 Nissan Titan pickup with the California license plate 7X03191, Maggard said.

Dorner was being sought by Irvine police, Los Angeles police, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service. He may be anywhere between Los Angeles and San Diego, Maggard said.

A tip line has been established, (949) 724-7192.

Police who received a call at 9:10 p.m. Sunday about a person slumped over in a parked car at 2100 Scholarship found the recently engaged couple dead in Lawrence's Kia, which was parked at the top of the five-story structure for the building where they lived.

There was no evidence Lawrence and 28-year-old Monica Quan were being robbed, said Irvine police Lt. Julia Engen said, who noted that the high- density residential community is highly secure with key card access only.

Irvine had two slayings in both 2011 and 2012, according to Engen, who said overall violent crime is at "historic lows" in the city.

Monica Quan was in her second season as an assistant coach for the Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team after holding a similar position at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

The couple met while at Concordia University in Irvine, where they both played basketball. Lawrence was seeking a career in law enforcement, which made him a good match for Monica Quan because her father was an LAPD officer, friends said.

The 27-year-old Lawrence, who graduated from the Ventura County Sheriff's Academy, was working as a patrol officer at USC's Department of Public Safety. He joined the department in August, said Carl Marziali, USC's assistant vice president of media relations.

Monica Quan was a star athlete at Walnut High School, then played at Cal State Long Beach from 2003-05 before transferring to Concordia University, where she graduated in 2007 with a degree in exercise and sports science. She received a master's degree from Concordia in 2009.

Autopsies on the bodies of Lawrence and Monica Quan were completed Tuesday and today, respectively, said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"The coroner determined that both died of multiple gunshot wounds," Amormino said. "No further information will be released at this time."

 - City News Service