Remembering Officer Ricardo
Photo courtesy Capt. Keith Green
On Feb. 20, Newton Division marked the 20th anniversary of the line-of-duty death of Officer Ricardo Lizarraga.
Officer Lizarraga was shot and killed Feb. 20, 2004 while investigating a domestic disturbance in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles. While on patrol, he and his partner were flagged down by a woman who informed the two Officers of a domestic incident. As the Officers approached a man to search him, he pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking Officer Lizarraga in the abdomen, below his vest. Officer Lizarraga’s partner returned fire as the suspect fled the scene. Officer Lizarraga was taken to a local hospital where he died from his wounds approximately two hours later. The suspect was apprehended and died the next day in custody by his own hand.
On the 20th anniversary, Officers from Newton Division paid tribute to him throughout the day. “I was honored to stand beside the men and women of Newton Patrol W-3,” wrote Capt. III Keith Green. “Officer Lizarraga, Rest in Peace.”
