Donald William Schneider
Detective

Donald William Schneider

Felonious
End of Watch January 4, 1973
Age 40
Tour of Duty 16 yrs 7 mo
The Vigil Panel 111 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Donald Schneider and Detective Sergeant Carl Wilson were shot and killed when they attempted to apprehend a suspect who had just murdered two people. The officers went to the man's home at 8251 Flight Avenue in Midway City after a witness was able to provide the license plate number of the fleeing car. They met an Orange County deputy at the home and then attempted to make contact with the suspect. When they went to the front door, the man opened fire with an automatic rifle, killing both deputies. The Orange County deputy watching the rear of the home shot and wounded the suspect before taking him into custody. The subject was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in 1981. Detective Schneider had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for over 16 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Detective Schneider gave the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Schneider.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Monterey Park, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lacso.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 4, 1973
Tour of Duty 16 yrs 7 mo
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1973, 171 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 17th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Donald was 40. 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. Donald had served 16.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Donald among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Donald William Schneider

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch January 4, 1973

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-E

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