Officer of the Year Nominee Among 3 Killed Over Dog
A police officer who was among three people killed in a gunfight over a pit bull was a nominee for 1993 Officer of the Year and had only 11 months to go before retiring.
Officer William Grijalva, 42, was killed Wednesday in a chain of violence set off by a man’s refusal to let police take his dog under quarantine. The pit bull had bitten at least three people and records showed that its rabies vaccination was overdue.
Also killed were Luke Grinage, 21, the owner of the dog, and his wheelchair-bound father, Rafael Grinage, whose age was not released.
Three officers tried to arrest Luke Grinage outside his home. The 270-pound man struggled and the officers sprayed him with Mace. They tried to handcuff him but he ran into the house, grabbed a shotgun and fired.
Grijalva was hit in his side, which was not covered by his bulletproof vest. He and another officer returned fire.
Officers got off at least 10 shots and it was not known if the father was killed by bullets fired by police or his son.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
