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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
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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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
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Orange County Sheriff's Department has lost 10 officers; 5 of them killed feloniously.
Bradley is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Bradley is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Bradley is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1999, 1 officer at Orange County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1999, 4 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 101st heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1999, 58 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 133rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1999, 61 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 132nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Bradley was 34. Of the 5 killed feloniously at Orange County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 50; the middle age was 44. Bradley had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Bradley was 34. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Bradley had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bradley was 34. 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. Bradley had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bradley was 34. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Bradley had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 20% of these deaths at Orange County Sheriff's Department; November holds the most, 20%. Saturdays: 20%.
June holds 7.6% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 16.4%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 10 deaths at Orange County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Orange County Sheriff's Department has 10 officers remembered here, Bradley among them.
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Robert Squires
Dec 16, 1912
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Ezra Stanley
Nov 19, 1940
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Robert Shultz
Apr 21, 1958
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Mark Steven Tonkin
Oct 24, 1988
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Darryn Leroy Robins
Dec 25, 1993
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Bradley Jay Riches
Jun 12, 1999
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Steven Edward Parsons
Jun 24, 2000
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Matthew Ray Davis
Sep 22, 2002
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Ira Gabor Essoe, Sr.
Feb 4, 2010
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Carlos J. Cammon
Aug 23, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Orange County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
