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Christopher Dorner was 'on mission' before gun battle | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man carjacked at gunpoint by a murderous former Los Angeles policeman has described coming face to face with America's most wanted man. | A man carjacked at gunpoint by a murderous former Los Angeles policeman has described coming face to face with America's most wanted man. |
Rick Heltebrake said Christopher Dorner was "almost professional" as he ordered him out of his pick-up truck. | Rick Heltebrake said Christopher Dorner was "almost professional" as he ordered him out of his pick-up truck. |
Afterwards, Dorner was in a shoot-out with police that ended with the fugitive assumed dead in a cabin fire, 80 miles (128km) east of Los Angeles. | |
Police have denied razing the cabin on purpose during the siege. | Police have denied razing the cabin on purpose during the siege. |
A local CBS broadcaster and CNN aired an audio recording of apparent police radio communications during the shoot-out. Voices purported to be police were heard saying: "Burn it down". | A local CBS broadcaster and CNN aired an audio recording of apparent police radio communications during the shoot-out. Voices purported to be police were heard saying: "Burn it down". |
"We did not intentionally burn down that cabin to get Mr Dorner out,'' San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said on Wednesday. | "We did not intentionally burn down that cabin to get Mr Dorner out,'' San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said on Wednesday. |
He told reporters that officials used the term "burners" to described pyrotechnic tear canisters, which generate "a lot of heat". | He told reporters that officials used the term "burners" to described pyrotechnic tear canisters, which generate "a lot of heat". |
"We had introduced those canisters into the residence and a fire erupted," he said. | "We had introduced those canisters into the residence and a fire erupted," he said. |
'On a mission' | 'On a mission' |
Police have not formally identified charred remains found in the cabin as Dorner, but have ended their manhunt, standing down the LAPD from high alert. | Police have not formally identified charred remains found in the cabin as Dorner, but have ended their manhunt, standing down the LAPD from high alert. |
Mr Heltebrake was sitting in his pick-up truck on Tuesday when he said Dorner emerged from a grove of trees and pointed a large assault-style rifle at him. | Mr Heltebrake was sitting in his pick-up truck on Tuesday when he said Dorner emerged from a grove of trees and pointed a large assault-style rifle at him. |
"I don't want to hurt you," Mr Heltebrake recalled Dorner saying. "Start walking and take your dog." | "I don't want to hurt you," Mr Heltebrake recalled Dorner saying. "Start walking and take your dog." |
The former cop, wanted for three murders in southern California, was in camouflage from head to toe and wearing a bulletproof vest packed with ammunition, he said. | The former cop, wanted for three murders in southern California, was in camouflage from head to toe and wearing a bulletproof vest packed with ammunition, he said. |
But Mr Heltebrake did not feel as though Dorner wanted to hurt him. | But Mr Heltebrake did not feel as though Dorner wanted to hurt him. |
"He wasn't wild-eyed, just almost professional,'' he said. "He was on a mission. There were other people down the road that were part of his agenda." | "He wasn't wild-eyed, just almost professional,'' he said. "He was on a mission. There were other people down the road that were part of his agenda." |
Mr Heltebrake called police when he heard gunfire soon after, then hid behind a tree. | Mr Heltebrake called police when he heard gunfire soon after, then hid behind a tree. |
The pick-up truck was the second car Dorner reportedly stole on Tuesday, after ditching another vehicle he seized outside a cabin where he had been hiding, just a half-mile from the police command centre. | The pick-up truck was the second car Dorner reportedly stole on Tuesday, after ditching another vehicle he seized outside a cabin where he had been hiding, just a half-mile from the police command centre. |
Couple 'tied up' | Couple 'tied up' |
A couple told a news conference on Wednesday that they happened upon Dorner when they entered the cabin on Tuesday. They said Dorner had a gun but assured them they would not be harmed. | |
The couple said he tied their arms and put pillowcases over their heads before fleeing in their Nissan. | The couple said he tied their arms and put pillowcases over their heads before fleeing in their Nissan. |
Mrs Reynolds said she had managed to get her mobile phone and call police. | Mrs Reynolds said she had managed to get her mobile phone and call police. |
Authorities could not immediately verify the story, and other reports said the fugitive was found by two women cleaning the house. | Authorities could not immediately verify the story, and other reports said the fugitive was found by two women cleaning the house. |
Authorities were originally looking for the stolen Nissan when Dorner is said to have driven at them, gun blazing, in Mr Heltebrake's pick-up truck. | |
The fugitive then fled to another cabin where the shoot-out with San Bernardino police began. | The fugitive then fled to another cabin where the shoot-out with San Bernardino police began. |
During the gun battle, sheriff's deputy Jeremiah MacKay was killed, and another deputy, Alexander Collins, was wounded. | During the gun battle, sheriff's deputy Jeremiah MacKay was killed, and another deputy, Alexander Collins, was wounded. |
MacKay, a detective who had been with the department for 15 years, had a wife, a seven-year-old daughter and a four-month-old son, officials said. | MacKay, a detective who had been with the department for 15 years, had a wife, a seven-year-old daughter and a four-month-old son, officials said. |
The authorities said Dorner earlier killed the daughter of a police captain who had represented him at a disciplinary hearing, and her fiance. He was also accused of killing another policeman and injuring two others. |