Ricardo Lizarraga
Agency patch
Police Officer

Ricardo Lizarraga

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch February 20, 2004
Age 31
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 151 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Ricardo Lizarraga was shot and killed while investigating a domestic disturbance in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles.

He and his partner were flagged down by a woman while on patrol. The woman informed the two officers she was having problems with a friend and wanted him removed from her home. As the officers approached the 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 transported to a local hospital where he died from his wounds approximately 2 hours later.

The suspect was arrested about 3 hours after the shooting during a large manhunt. The shooter was a gang member who was on parole and had a long criminal history. The suspect attempted to hang himself in his cell a few hours after his first court appearance. He died the next day from the injuries he received in that attempt.

Officer Lizarraga had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 2.5 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, brother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-C1CA3A49
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Lizarraga gave the Los Angeles Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lizarraga.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 20, 2004
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Police Officer Ricardo Lizarraga 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 97,772 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 Police Department, 115 of 240 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.9% of this agency's fallen.

Los Angeles Police Department
115
of 240 officers
47.9% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ricardo Lizarraga's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Ricardo Lizarraga Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ricardo Lizarraga is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ricardo Lizarraga was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location