Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Brad Riches was shot and killed after being ambushed at a convenience store at 12:52 am.
Deputy Riches was on routine patrol when he pulled up to the 7-11 store on Muirlands Boulevard and Ridge Route Drive in Lake Forest. As soon as he pulled up, a man exited the store and opened fire on him with an AK-47 rifle. Although Deputy Riches was able to make an emergency broadcast, he did not have time to return fire or exit his vehicle before he was killed.
The suspect then fled the scene of the shooting. Another deputy recognized the murderer after viewing the store's surveillance tapes, and he was arrested later in the day while trying to flee the area. The suspect had a history of arrests for drunk driving, drugs, and assaulting a police officer. The suspect was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in December 2003.
Deputy Riches had served with the Orange County Sheriff's Department for 9 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-5BF4AFCF- 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 Riches gave the Orange County Sheriff's Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Santa Ana community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Riches.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Bradley Jay Riches 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 Orange County Sheriff's Dept., 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bradley Jay Riches's cause is highlighted.
How Bradley Jay Riches Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bradley Jay Riches is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Orange County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
