El Monte Police Department, California
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 9, 1974
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: July 9, 1974
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Officer Manuel Arceo was shot and killed as he and another officer responded to a silent alarm at a pawn shop at 14348 Ramona Boulevard, just a half a block from the Baldwin Park Police Department.
A man had entered the pawnshop, grabbed a machete, and threatened the proprietress. She offered him money but the man stated he "just wanted guns to kill cops." The man stepped outside, with a rifle she gave him, and opened fire on the officers as they approached.
Officer Arceo was struck by a ricocheted round fired by another officer. The subject was killed by the other officers who returned fire.