Tommy Edward Scott
Incident
Officer Tommy Scott was killed after stopping a suspicious man near Los Angeles International Airport.
After the stop was made, a physical confrontation occurred and the suspect wrestled away from Officer Scott. The suspect jumped into the driver's seat of the patrol car, and with Officer Scott struggling to pull him out, sped off at speeds that reached 50 to 60 mph. The suspect then drove the police vehicle onto the sidewalk where Officer Scott was thrown into a fire hydrant and killed instantly.
After crashing Officer Scott's patrol car, the suspect carjacked a motorist and sped away. He lost control of the vehicle seconds later and launched up an embankment and over an airfield perimeter fence before landing upside down in an adjacent parking lot. He was then arrested and charged with murder.
On November 19, 2009, the suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life with no possibility of parole.
Officer Scott had served with the Los Angeles International Airport Police Department for 4 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his father, stepmother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-49CDF642- 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.
Police Officer Scott gave the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Scott.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Tommy Edward Scott 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Tommy Edward Scott's cause is highlighted.
How Tommy Edward Scott Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Tommy Edward Scott is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Tommy Edward Scott was killed by automobile.