James Rex Jensen Jr., age 30, died on March 13, 1996, in Oxnard, California, while serving as a Police Officer II with the Oxnard Police Department. A U.S. Marine veteran, Jensen was part of a tactical team conducting a high-risk warrant service at a house believed to hold three heavily armed drug-ring leaders. During the operation the team used smoke grenades to disorient suspects; the smoke obscured another officer’s vision and that officer, Sgt. Dan Christian, mistakenly identified Jensen as an armed suspect and fired a shotgun, fatally wounding him.

Jensen was taken to a local hospital but died of his injuries. The shooting was ruled an inadvertent friendly-fire death and no criminal charges were filed against Sgt. Christian. The department and community mourned Jensen’s loss, and the event prompted discussion about training and communication during tactical operations. If anyone knew Officer Jensen or has information about that operation, please share what might help clarify the events of that day.