Detective Jeremiah MacKay San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California End of Watch: Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Detective Jeremiah MacKay

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Biographical Info

Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 15 years
Badge Number: 1226

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 12, 2013
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Believed to be deceased

Agency Contact Information

Sheriff John McMahon
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
655 East 3rd Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: (909) 387-3545

Detective Jeremiah MacKay was shot and killed as he and other deputies attempted to apprehend the suspect wanted for murdering Police Officer Michael Crain, of the Riverside Police Department, five days earlier.
After murdering Officer Crain, the subject fled to the Big Bear area of San Bernardino County where he remained at large for several days. On February 12th, the subject broke into a cabin and tied the occupants up before stealing their truck. The victims were able to free themselves and called 911 to report the incident.
A short time later game wardens with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife spotted the truck near the intersection of Glass Road and Highway 38. After a vehicle-to-vehicle shootout the subject fled into the woods and barricaded himself inside a cabin, which was immediately surrounded by law enforcement officers as the SWAT team responded to the area. Hundreds of rounds were exchanged during a prolonged shootout in which Detective MacKay and another deputy were both wounded. Both deputies were flown to Loma Linda University Hospital where Detective MacKay succumbed to his wounds.
The cabin that the subject fled into became engulfed. When the fire was extinguished a body believed to be that of the subject was recovered.
Detective Mackay had served with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for 15 years and was assigned to the Yucaipa Station. He is survived by his wife and child.

The San Bernardino deputy who was killed during a shootout with suspect killer Christopher Dorner has been identified as Det. Jeremiah MacKay, said the San Bernardino County’s Department during a news conference on Wednesday.
Sheriff John McMahon said that MacKay, 35, was pronounced deceased at the hospital. According to McMahon, MacKay was a member of the sheriff’s department for 15 years and that he was married and a father to two children — a 7-year-old girl and a 4-month-old son.

MacKay was presently assigned to the Yucaipa station but was also a detective at the Big Bear station.
"My sincere condolences go out to the MacKay family," said McMahon. "This is truly another sad day for law enforcement. Our department is grieving from this event."

MacKay was killed Tuesday as authorities closed in Dorner, wanted for killing two civilians and a Riverside cop, while he was holed up in a vacant cabin in the Angelus Oaks area of Big Bear.

Another deputy, who was later identified at the press conference as Alex Collins, from the Yucaipa office, was also wounded in the same gun battle. According to McMahon, Collins is currently at a hospital being treated and went through a couple of different surgeries.

"I just spoke to his wife," said McMahon of Collins. "He’s in good spirits and should make a full recovery after a number of additional surgeries."
Before he fled to the cabin, Dorner had highjacked a pickup truck.
He then "abandoned the vehicle, ran into the forest, and hid inside this cabin before he barricaded himself. He was engaged in gunfire and shot two of our deputy sheriffs," said sheriff spokesperson Cindy Bachmann.
The cabin eventually caught on fire and a charred body was found inside, although authorities have yet to confirm it was the man they were seeking for over a week.

Meanwhile, Riverside police held a funeral for the officer killed in last week’s gun battle. CBS San Diego affiliate KFMB reports Michael Crain, a 34-year-old father of two, was allegedly shot by Dorner when the fugitive ambushed him and another officer. The second officer was wounded.
Lt. Andra Brown from the San Diego Police Department told the station several officers traveled to the funeral Wednesday to pay their respects to Crain and flags at San Diego Police headquarters in downtown will remain at half staff.