Gary W. Murakami
Agency patch
Policeman

Gary W. Murakami

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch September 9, 1968
Age 23
Tour of Duty
Badge 14037
The Vigil Panel 104 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Gary Murakami was shot and killed while he and his partner answered a call of a disturbance involving a nude man knocking on doors on West 60th Street. When the officers approached the apartment's front door they had to pass in front of a window. As they did so the suspect opened fire with a .410 gauge shotgun, striking Officer Murakami in the head. Officer Murakami was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to the wound during surgery. The suspect was killed by officers at the scene who returned fire. The shooting took place on Officer Murakami's first call on his second day out of the academy. His unit had just been released from roll call when he was dispatched on the call.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
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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.
Policeman Murakami served with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Murakami.

— 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 September 9, 1968
Tour of Duty
Age 23
Badge Number 14037
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Gary is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1968, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gary was 23. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Gary had served 0 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Gary among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman Gary W. Murakami

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch September 9, 1968

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E

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