Deputy Stephen Sorensen

EOW 08/02/03

Deputy Stephen Sorensen, a 12-year veteran, was killed after following up on a trespassing call shortly after 12:30 p.m. near Highway 138, east of Palmdale. A witness reported hearing about a half dozen gunshots and called authorities. Deputies at the scene located Sorensen's unoccupied patrol car, and found Sorenson's body nearby within an hour. Authorities were searching Sunday for a man they believe may have witnessed the shooting following a struggle in the desert.

The deputy had been shot in the upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. It was unclear whether he had been in a gun battle with the suspect or if he was ambushed. The hazmat team rolled out nearby the location where the incident took place regarding a possible meth lab. Deputies were trying to locate a 52-year-old man who lives in the area and may have witnessed the shooting. The man was not believed to have been involved in the shooting. Sheriff's investigators were being assisted in their search by the California Highway Patrol, a SWAT team and a bomb squad.

The vehicle was registered to a Donald Charles Kueck, 52, who had a lengthy criminal record, including arrests for resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer. Kueck was later located at his home, where he engaged deputies in a fire fight. Tear gas was fired into the house, setting the house on fire and burning it to the ground. A burned corpse was located in the ashes, later identified as the remains of Kueck. Prior to the fire fight, Kueck admitted in a phone call that he had shot and killed Deputy Sorensen. Deputy Sorensen leaves his wife Christine, an adult son, and an adopted 2 year old son