Roll of Honor
Juan Abel Escalante
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Juan Escalante was shot and killed when two armed gang members confronted him in front of his home as he prepared to leave for work.
Deputy Escalante drew his weapon and identified himself as a deputy before being fatally shot.
The subject who shot Deputy Escalante knew that he worked as a deputy at the Central Jail and shot him in retribution for a shooting six months earlier in which an LAPD police officer shot the suspect's cousin. Deputy Escalante was not involved in the previous shooting.
When the gang member spotted Deputy Escalante in the 900 block of Aragon Avenue in Los Angeles, he told the man driving to stop the car, and two of the gang members got out to confront him. The men opened fire when Deputy Escalante identified himself.
Four subjects, including the gang member who shot Deputy Escalante and the man who provided the firearm, were arrested and charged in connection with his murder. On September 14th, 2010, the driver of the car pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. In October 2012, the subject who shot Deputy Escalante pleaded guilty to murder and other charges and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Another suspect was sentenced to life in prison without parole. A fifth suspect was arrested in Mexico in December 2012 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. A sixth suspect was at large until 2025 when he was captured in Mexico.
Deputy Escalante was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 2-1/2 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-DD9E68C9- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Escalante gave the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Juan Abel Escalante served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Juan Abel Escalante is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, 58 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Juan Abel Escalante's cause is highlighted.
How Juan Abel Escalante Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Juan Abel Escalante is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Juan Abel Escalante was killed by handgun; .40 caliber.
Incident Location
Military Service
Juan Abel Escalante served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Juan Abel Escalante’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
119 officers from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
