A San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy who was fatally injured in a shootout with a suspect believed to be fugitive Christopher Jordan Dorner on Tuesday east of Angelus Oaks was identified Wednesday as a Yucaipa Station detective, married with two children, and a resident of Redlands.
Detective Jeremiah MacKay was a 15-year veteran with the department, Sheriff John McMahon said. He was father of a 7-year-old daughter and a 4-month-old son.
"My sincere condolences go out to the McKay family," McMahon said at a news conference. "This is truly another sad day for law enforcement. Our department is grieving from this event."
Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar released a statement shortly after.
"Our hearts go out to the family of San Bernardino County Sheriff's Detective Jeremiah MacKay, a Redlands son who bravely gave his life on Tuesday in the line of duty," Aguilar said.
"Last week Redlands was touched with tragedy when Officer Michael Crain, a Riverside Police Department officer who also had roots in our community was slain in the line of duty," Aguilar said.
"We want to express our heartfelt sympathy to the officers and civilian employees of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and the Riverside Police Department," Aguilar said. "Your family of fellow public safety officers and the City of Redlands share your grief and mourn your loss."
Whether a burned-out cabin in Seven Oaks contains the remains of Dorner, the rogue ex-LAPD cop, authorities believe he is accountable for four killings in the space of ten days: a former LAPD captain's daughter and her fiancé in Irvine on Feb. 3, Crain on Feb. 7, and MacKay on Feb. 12.
Crain's funeral was Wednesday in Riverside and he was laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery.
A fundraising site has been set up on Facebook for MacKay's family. For more information visit www.facebook.com/SheriffsDetectiveJeremiahMackayFamilyFund.
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