California Highway Patrol, California
End of Watch Friday, March 15, 1963
Add to My HeroesCharles H. Sorenson
Officer Charles Sorenson was shot and killed in Rio Vista, California while chasing two suspected armed robbers.
He was on patrol when he spotted the suspect vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. He gave chase to the vehicle until it crashed near the Rio Vista Bridge over the Sacramento River. The suspects fled into an abandoned house and then shot Officer Sorenson in the neck as he came around the corner.
The two suspects then stole Officer Sorenson's cruiser and led other officers on a chase at speeds of 130 mph. The suspects were finally stopped when they rammed a police roadblock six miles east of Fairfield, killing Deputy Sheriff Hale Humphrey of the Solano County Sheriff's Department. Both suspects, ages 18 and 16, were apprehended and charged with the deaths of both officers.
The 16-year-old suspect was turned over to the California Youth Authority. The 18-year-old suspect, who was the driver of the car and the gunman, was convicted of first-degree murder of Officer Sorenson and second-degree murder of Deputy Humphrey and sentenced to death on September 17th, 1963. On August 23rd, 1966, his sentence was commuted to life. He was paroled from Soledad Prison in September 1978.
Officer Sorenson was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the California Highway Patrol for six years. He was survived by his wife, son, and parents.
Bio
- Age 32
- Tour 6 years
- Badge 2341
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Paroled in 1978
Most Recent Reflection
View all 16 ReflectionsJust drove by Charles H: Sorensons memorial sign on the freeway in Rio Vista and decided to look up his name. Would like to tell you how sorry we are for the loss if your Son, husband, and how sorry we are for the sentence they received, It was senseless and they should have spent their whole lives in prison, so sorry again for your loss
None
Nobe
July 7, 2023
Recent LODD Deaths
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks
United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, US
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator William "Alden" Elliott
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator Samuel Poloche
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Joshua Eyer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Russell Croxton
Dubach Police Department, LA
EOW: April 27, 2024
Sergeant Ian Taylor
Billerica Police Department, MA
EOW: April 26, 2024
Police Officer Kyle Hicks
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: April 24, 2024
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 23, 2024
Police Officer Jordan Wingate
Oakland Police Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024