USC Remembers Dorner Victim Keith Lawrence
Officer Keith Lawrence, who had worked for the university since August, was shot and killed by Chris Dorner along with his fiancé Monica Quan. The double homicide prompted a massive manhunt for the fugitive ex-LAPD cop.

Photo courtesy of USC.
The University of Southern California's Department of Public Safety is mourning the death of their officer who was killed by Christopher Dorner.
Officer Keith Lawrence, 27, who had worked for the university since August, was shot and killed by Dorner on Feb. 4 in Irvine, Calif., along with his fiancé Monica Quan, 28. The double homicide prompted a massive manhunt for Dorner, which ended last week after a shootout and fire at at Big Bear cabin.
After murdering Lawrence and Quan, Dorner killed Riverside Police Officer Michael Crain and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremiah MacKay. In a statement, USC emphasized Lawrence's achievements with his department.
"During his brief tenure of service here at USC, Officer Lawrence proved to be an honorable, compassionate and professional member of our department and the Trojan family," according to a university statement. "We are a better department and the USC campus community is a safer place as a result of his service."
Officer Lawrence was very proud to be a USC public safety officer, said John Thomas, USC DPS executive director and chief. "His family has asked that he be laid to rest in his USC DPS uniform."
The joint memorial service for Lawrence and Quan will be held Sunday at Concordia University in Irvine.
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