Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Michael Hoenig was shot and killed at approximately 1:15 am by a subject who was on a bicycle. The man was acting erratically, and Deputy Hoenig stopped him on the 3000 block of Seminole Avenue in South Gate. The man opened fire on Deputy Hoenig as he was about to question him. Deputy Hoenig was sitting in his patrol car when the man fired through the window of the rear passenger door. A round struck Deputy Hoenig, who then attempted to exit his patrol car. The man then came around the back of the patrol car and fired at least six more shots. Deputy Hoenig was wearing a bulletproof vest, but the fatal bullet struck him in the neck. He was found lying outside of his patrol car with his gun next to him. He never had a chance to return fire or to call for help. The man was found guilty and sentenced to death in December of 1998. Deputy Hoenig had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for three years and had been with another agency for seven years before it was merged with the sheriff's department.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents, two brothers, and his sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-3F92028C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Hoenig gave the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hoenig.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Michael Lee Hoenig is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept., 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. Michael Lee Hoenig's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Lee Hoenig Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Lee Hoenig is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Lee Hoenig was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
119 officers from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
