Brian E. Brown

:"Not to be confused with Bryan Brown"

Brian Brown was a Los Angeles Police Officer who was the victim of a gang shooting on Sunday, November 29, 1999. He and his partner, Francisco Dominguez, chased two gunmen who had just committed a fatal drive-by shooting in Culver City, California, then peppered their squad car with assault-weapon fire. Brown, who didn't have time to get out of his car or draw his weapon, was struck in the head and died at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center shortly after the incident.

One of the gunmen, Oscar Zatarain, 23, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, was shot and killed at a nearby shopping mall by Dominguez and two other officers.

The second gunman commandeered a taxi at a nearby convenience store. After shoving the cabby out of the car, the gunman led police on a five-mile chase to the Los Angeles International Airport, where he rammed several parked cars at Terminal One outside the Southwest Airlines area. He then bolted from the wrecked cab and ran about 200 yards before he was struck by at least four bullets fired by police. This suspected survived and was tried and convicted.

Both gunmen were members of the Culver City Boyz gang set, and were involved in a shootout with member of rival gang Inglewood 13 at the time of the shooting. Officer Brown's death was a catalyst in obtaining a crucial gang injuction against the Culver City Boyz and other rival gangs battling for this otherwise peaceful area.

Brown, who had been with the department for three years, was also a decorated former Marine who survived combat in Somalia. He is survived by his son Dylan.