Deputy Stephen Sorensen was shot and killed after responding to a trespassing call near Highway 138 in an unincorporated area east of Palmdale. Shortly after his arrival, a witness heard approximately six gunshots and notified law enforcement. Responding deputies located Deputy Sorensen’s patrol vehicle but were unable to find him. After searching the area for approximately one hour, deputies discovered his body.
Investigators also found chemicals associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine nearby, leading authorities to believe Deputy Sorensen may have discovered an illegal drug laboratory before he was killed.
One week later, the suspect was located inside a residence in the Lake Los Angeles area. During a cellphone conversation with law enforcement, he admitted to murdering Deputy Sorensen but refused to surrender. Deputies were met with gunfire, resulting in a standoff. During the confrontation, the residence became engulfed in flames. The suspect’s body was later recovered from inside the home, along with Deputy Sorensen’s service weapon and radio.
Deputy Sorensen was a 12-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He served in several assignments before becoming a resident deputy in the East Palmdale area