Ricardo Lizarraga was a 31-year-old Los Angeles Police Department officer killed on February 20, 2004, while responding to a domestic disturbance in the Leimert Park area. Lizarraga and his partner, Officer Joel Ruiz, were flagged down by a woman who said she needed help with an abusive boyfriend. The officers confronted Kendrick Johnson, described as a known gang member and convicted felon; Johnson produced a handgun and opened fire. Lizarraga was struck in the abdomen below his bulletproof vest, was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and died of his injuries.

Ruiz returned fire and Johnson fled but was later found hiding in an alley and arrested on suspicion of murder. Johnson was found hanging in his jail cell on February 24, 2004, and died the next day. The case later drew renewed attention when a 2023 lawsuit alleged involvement by Centurion Chairman Donald Payne in ordering Johnson’s killing.

Does anyone have direct information about the February 2004 shooting or the subsequent jail death of Kendrick Johnson?