Deputy Sheriff Isaiah Cordero
Officer: Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Sheriff Isaiah Cordero
Date: 12/29/2022 Location: Jurupa Valley, CA FACTORS (1,2,7,8,9,15,21)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: William Shea McKay
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, McKay “had a long history of violence dating back to the 1990s that included kidnapping, robbery, and assaults with deadly weapons, including stabbing a California highway patrol dog”. In 2021 he got his “third strike” and “should have automatically been sentenced to 25 years to life.” / Yes, McKay was a felon in criminal possession of a weapon when he ambushed Deputy Cordero.
Mental Illness: None reported.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None reported.
Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/44
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At just before 2 p.m. on December 29, 2022, Riverside County Deputy Sheriff Cordero conducted a traffic stop on a black pickup truck operated by William McKay.
Actions taken by subject toward police: As Deputy Cordero approached McKay’s vehicle, McKay used a handgun to shoot the deputy and then fled the scene in his pickup truck. A civilian witness who observed the shooting called 911 and rendered first aid until Deputy Cordero could be transported to a hospital where he tragically succumbed to his wounds.
Reactions by the police: A multijurisdictional manhunt was conducted, and McKay was observed driving his pickup truck in San Bernardino. A SWAT truck and dozens of police vehicles followed McKay’s pickup which was disabled by spike strips and crashed into the side of the highway. The SWAT truck pinned McKay’s vehicle against a concrete wall and when McKay shot at them, the deputies returned fire, killing him.
How murdered? Deputy Cordero was ambushed and fatally shot during a traffic stop.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? It is extremely difficult for an officer to avoid being shot when ambushed at the beginning of a traffic stop.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Deputy Cordero was ambushed and may not have even been able to unholster his weapon.
Outcome for the cop-killer: McKay was justifiably shot dead by deputies returning fire at him.
Miscellaneous: McKay “could have been incarcerated under California’s three strikes law, but he was released” by Judge Cara Hutson. Sheriff Chad Bianco said, “We would not be here today if the judge had done her job.”
