Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Michael Crain was shot and killed when he and his partner were ambushed as they were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Arlington Avenue at about 1:30 am. A subject opened fire on their patrol car, fatally wounding Officer Crain and severely wounding his partner.
The officers were ambushed by an ex-Los Angeles Police Department officer who had been fired in 2008. Several days earlier, the subject had murdered Public Safety Officer Keith Lawrence of the University of Southern California Department of Public Safety and his fiancee. His fiancee was the daughter of an LAPD captain who had been involved in the personnel review that led to his firing. It is believed that the subject had researched Officer Lawrence's background as a law enforcement officer prior to ambushing and murdering them. The subject then posted an online manifesto admitting to the murders and stated he would seek revenge on other officials involved with his personnel review and dismissal from the department.
Shortly before Officer Crain and his partner were shot, the subject shot and wounded an LAPD officer in Corona who was on a protective detail as a result of the threats made by the subject.
On Tuesday, February 12th, 2013, the subject was located in San Bernardino County by game wardens with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. After a shootout, the subject fled to a nearby cabin and became engaged in a prolonged shootout with members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Detective Jeremiah MacKay was fatally wounded, and another was seriously wounded.
The subject committed suicide after the cabin he was barricaded in became engulfed in flames.
Officer Crain was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Riverside Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-C80EFD87- 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 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.
Police Officer Crain gave the Riverside Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside 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
Michael Daniel Crain served in the Marine Corps (1997â2001) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Michael Daniel Crain 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 Riverside Police Department, 14 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 93.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Daniel Crain's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Daniel Crain Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Daniel Crain is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Daniel Crain was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Riverside Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
