# Deputy Pulls Over a Truck With No Rear Plate — Minutes Later, California Launches a Massive Manhunt for His Killer

**A routine traffic stop. A missing rear license plate. A deputy who had no reason to expect that this encounter would become his final call.**

On December 29, 2022, Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Isaiah Cordero approached a vehicle during what appeared to be an ordinary traffic enforcement stop in Southern California.

The initial body-camera footage shows a calm exchange. The deputy asks the driver about the vehicle’s tags, ownership, license and registration.

But the encounter would end in tragedy.

Cordero was fatally shot, setting off an enormous law-enforcement response. Investigators identified the suspect as 44-year-old William McKay, a man with a lengthy criminal history and an outstanding warrant.

Within hours, officers were tracking McKay along Southern California highways.

Stop sticks were deployed. Tires disintegrated. Armored police vehicles joined the pursuit. Officers discussed tactical intervention as the fleeing vehicle continued through traffic.

Then the final confrontation erupted into gunfire.

By the time it was over, McKay was dead, and investigators would recover evidence that raised disturbing questions about how a repeat offender with an active warrant had remained free.

## PART 1 — The Traffic Stop That Ended a Deputy’s Life

The footage begins with Deputy Isaiah Cordero approaching a vehicle and speaking with its driver.

He asks about the missing vehicle tags and requests identification and registration.

The exchange initially appears ordinary.

The driver responds to the deputy’s questions, and the conversation proceeds without an obvious confrontation in the opening moments.

Then the footage transitions into the aftermath of a shooting.

Responding personnel attempt to assist Cordero, repeatedly calling his name and checking for signs of life.

The atmosphere changes completely.

Officers urgently coordinate medical assistance as they try to save their colleague.

Cordero, 32, would later be pronounced dead.

The killing immediately transformed a traffic stop into a major homicide investigation involving law-enforcement agencies across Southern California.

Investigators began reviewing the deputy’s body-camera footage and nearby automated license-plate-reader information.

The evidence led authorities to identify William McKay as the suspect.

According to the video’s case summary, McKay had an extensive violent criminal history and connections to an outlaw motorcycle gang.

More importantly, he was already wanted.

Investigators believed the suspect was attempting to avoid returning to prison.

The search for McKay rapidly expanded.

And less than two hours later, authorities had another major development.

## PART 2 — The Manhunt: Stop Sticks, Armored Vehicles and a Dangerous Highway Pursuit

An off-duty law-enforcement officer reportedly spotted McKay traveling south on Interstate 15.

The discovery triggered a coordinated pursuit.

Multiple agencies joined the effort, and officers began discussing how to stop the fleeing vehicle safely.

The suspect was considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Officers deployed spike strips to damage the vehicle’s tires.

Radio communications show the police carefully monitoring traffic conditions, lane positions, vehicle speed and the location of tactical units.

At one point, officers confirm that the vehicle has driven over the spikes.

The intervention damages multiple tires.

But McKay continues driving.

As the pursuit progresses, officers report tires deflating, smoking and eventually breaking apart.

The vehicle moves through congested freeway sections while patrol units attempt to maintain control of the pursuit.

An armored BearCat vehicle joins the operation.

Officers discuss the possibility of using a PIT maneuver, but heavy traffic repeatedly complicates their plans.

The tactical concern is obvious: stopping an armed suspect is necessary, but an uncontrolled collision on a busy freeway could injure innocent motorists.

Radio traffic also reveals concern that McKay might abandon the vehicle and flee toward nearby buildings or residential areas.

Police continue coordinating.

Some units are directed to fall back, while specialized teams remain directly involved.

The pursuit becomes increasingly organized around a smaller primary group of tactical vehicles, supported by additional officers managing traffic and containment.

Even with damaged tires, McKay’s vehicle continues moving.

At several points, officers report speeds around 30–60 mph as conditions change.

The suspect moves across freeway lanes, shoulders and connecting routes.

Police prepare another intervention.

But the most dangerous moment is still ahead.

## PART 3 — The Final Confrontation: Armed Suspect, Gunfire and a Deadly Ending

As the pursuit nears its conclusion, officers report that McKay is armed.

Radio traffic becomes urgent.

An officer announces that the suspect is brandishing a handgun.

Then another warning follows.

The suspect is reportedly firing.

A confrontation erupts involving multiple officers.

Gunfire is heard, and officers urgently communicate positions, cover and the need to stop shooting once the immediate threat has ended.

Eventually, the announcement comes over the radio:

**The suspect is down.**

Officers continue coordinating around the scene, confirming the safety of responding personnel and assessing the suspect’s position.

McKay is subsequently found deceased.

According to the autopsy and investigation details summarized in the video, he sustained 12 gunshot wounds, including injuries to the head, lungs and neck.

The video also states that officers discharged a total of 79 rounds during the confrontation.

A search of McKay’s vehicle reportedly uncovered a firearm connected to Deputy Cordero’s killing, a bag containing a white powdery substance, multiple credit cards believed to have been fraudulently used and a motorcycle-gang membership card.

The immediate manhunt was over.

But the case raised another major question.

**How had a man with McKay’s criminal record and an active warrant remained out of custody before the deputy was killed?**

## The Criminal History Behind the Manhunt

The case narrative describes a lengthy criminal history extending back more than two decades.

In 1999, McKay pleaded guilty to assault with a firearm and received a prison sentence.

In 2005, he was involved in a violent burglary and robbery case that resulted in additional convictions and a lengthy prison term.

The transcript also describes a 2021 incident involving unlawful restraint, threats and violence against victims.

Following that case, McKay was convicted of several offenses, including false imprisonment, evading law enforcement, criminal threats and receiving stolen property.

The court found him not guilty of kidnapping in that proceeding, according to the video.

The case narrative states that McKay’s bail was reduced from $950,000 to $500,000 in accordance with the applicable bail schedule.

He was subsequently released through a property-backed bail arrangement.

He was later arrested in connection with another drug-related allegation and again obtained release.

When he failed to appear for sentencing, a warrant was issued.

That warrant remained active when Deputy Cordero encountered him on December 29, 2022.

The sequence became central to public concern surrounding the case.

The deputy had been conducting ordinary police work.

The person he encountered was allegedly attempting to avoid returning to prison.

And the result was fatal.

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## LEGAL ANALYSIS — The California Laws and Criminal Justice Questions Behind the Killing of Deputy Isaiah Cordero

### 1. Why a Missing License Plate Can Justify a Traffic Stop

California law generally requires vehicles to display properly assigned license plates in accordance with applicable registration requirements.

A vehicle missing a required rear plate can provide a lawful basis for a traffic stop.

Under the Fourth Amendment, officers may temporarily detain a driver when they have an objectively valid legal justification for doing so.

That means a traffic stop can be constitutional even when the violation itself seems minor.

In this case, the missing rear license plate was the stated reason for the initial encounter.

The tragedy demonstrates that the seriousness of the violation prompting a stop does not necessarily predict the danger an officer may face during it.

### 2. Why the Outstanding Warrant Matters

The video states that McKay had an active warrant after failing to appear for a sentencing hearing.

A valid arrest warrant gives law enforcement authority to take the named individual into custody, subject to applicable constitutional requirements.

The existence of a warrant is important because it represents an unresolved judicial command.

It does not disappear simply because the person leaves the area or avoids further contact with authorities.

McKay’s warrant reportedly remained active at the time of the fatal traffic stop.

The central issue is therefore not merely whether police knew of the warrant during the first seconds of the encounter, but how the warrant fit into the broader circumstances leading up to the deputy’s death.

### 3. What California Law Says About Killing a Peace Officer

The intentional unlawful killing of a peace officer can carry exceptionally serious consequences under California criminal law.

California Penal Code Section 187 defines murder.

Other provisions, including Section 190.2, address certain special circumstances involving the intentional killing of peace officers performing their duties.

Whether a specific case meets the statutory elements of first-degree murder or a special circumstance depends on evidence of intent, knowledge, the circumstances of the killing and other required legal elements.

Because McKay died during the pursuit, he could not be prosecuted or convicted for Cordero’s killing.

Nevertheless, investigators could still determine the facts of the homicide, identify the responsible person and document the evidence.

### 4. Why a Manhunt Can Involve Multiple Agencies

When an officer is killed and the suspected shooter escapes, law-enforcement agencies may coordinate across city, county and state jurisdictions.

The objective is to locate and apprehend the suspect while minimizing danger to the public.

In this case, investigators used information from the deputy’s body camera and automated license-plate-reader systems to identify and locate McKay.

The subsequent pursuit involved coordinated radio communications, specialized units, spike strips and an armored vehicle.

The response reflected the severity of the suspected crime and the possibility that the fleeing suspect remained armed.

### 5. The Legal Risks of High-Speed Police Pursuits

High-speed pursuits create serious dangers.

Even when police are pursuing someone suspected of murder, officers must consider road conditions, traffic, visibility, surrounding areas and the risk of injury to other motorists.

California law and individual agency policies govern vehicle pursuits, including training, supervision and operational decisions.

The fact that a suspect is wanted for a serious offense does not mean every tactical choice automatically becomes reasonable.

Instead, officers must continually assess the danger presented by the fleeing suspect against the risks associated with continuing the pursuit.

The video demonstrates that ongoing assessment.

Officers repeatedly discuss heavy traffic, spike-strip placement, tactical positioning and the possibility of using a PIT maneuver.

### 6. Why Officers Used Spike Strips

Spike strips are designed to puncture tires and reduce a fleeing vehicle’s ability to continue traveling normally.

Their use can help terminate a pursuit, but they do not guarantee an immediate stop.

A vehicle may continue moving even after sustaining severe tire damage.

That is precisely what the video shows.

McKay’s vehicle continued along the freeway despite multiple tires losing pressure and deteriorating.

The pursuit therefore required additional containment and intervention planning.

### 7. Why the BearCat Was Important

A BearCat is an armored tactical vehicle commonly used by specialized law-enforcement units.

Its purpose can include providing ballistic protection, transporting personnel and supporting operations involving armed threats.

During this pursuit, officers repeatedly coordinated the BearCat’s position relative to the fleeing vehicle.

They also discussed using it in a tactical intervention when traffic conditions allowed.

The presence of an armored vehicle illustrates how authorities were preparing for the possibility of an armed confrontation rather than treating the incident as an ordinary traffic pursuit.

### 8. When Can Police Use a PIT Maneuver?

A PIT maneuver involves controlled vehicle contact intended to rotate and stop a fleeing vehicle.

Because the maneuver can cause a serious collision, its use requires careful consideration.

Agency policies may restrict it based on vehicle speed, traffic conditions, nearby hazards and the danger posed by the suspect.

The radio traffic in this case repeatedly references the need to wait for safer conditions.

Officers express concern about congestion and the possibility of collisions with uninvolved vehicles.

Those discussions are important because the legality and reasonableness of tactical force depend on the circumstances under which it is used.

### 9. When Is Deadly Force Constitutionally Permissible?

The Fourth Amendment governs claims that law-enforcement officers used excessive force during a seizure.

Under the standard established in *Graham v. Connor*, courts assess objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer at the scene, rather than through hindsight.

Relevant factors include the severity of the suspected crime, whether the person posed an immediate threat and whether the person was actively resisting or attempting to evade arrest.

A suspect reportedly firing a handgun during a police confrontation presents circumstances that can justify deadly force.

However, any final legal determination must consider the precise evidence concerning the threat, timing, officer positions and individual uses of force.

The transcript alone is not enough to independently adjudicate each officer’s conduct.

### 10. Why the Number of Shots Does Not Automatically Decide Legality

The case narrative states that officers fired 79 rounds during the final confrontation.

That number is significant and deserves scrutiny.

But the number of shots alone does not establish whether the force was lawful or unlawful.

Investigators must examine the threat perceived by officers, the timing of shots, the duration of the encounter, which officers fired and whether the threat remained active.

A shooting involving multiple officers may produce a large number of rounds within a short period.

Each relevant use of force must be evaluated against the applicable constitutional and statutory standards.

### 11. The Role of Autopsy and Forensic Evidence

The video describes an autopsy identifying 12 gunshot wounds.

Autopsy findings can help investigators reconstruct a shooting.

They may establish the location of injuries, trajectories, causes of death and other medically significant facts.

Ballistic evidence, cartridge casings, firearms and scene documentation can also help investigators determine how a confrontation unfolded.

These findings are particularly important when the suspect dies and cannot provide a later account.

### 12. Why Body Cameras and License-Plate Readers Matter

Modern investigations increasingly combine video recordings with automated vehicle-identification systems.

Body-camera footage may preserve an officer’s final interactions with a suspect.

License-plate-reader systems can help investigators locate vehicles associated with a crime.

In this case, the video narrative states that investigators used those sources to identify McKay.

The systems can be valuable, but their findings still require appropriate verification.

Vehicle identification, suspect identification and the reconstruction of a homicide are related but distinct evidentiary questions.

### 13. The Bail Decision That Raised Difficult Questions

One of the most controversial elements of the case involves McKay’s release before the killing.

According to the video, his bail was reduced in connection with a three-strikes case, and he was able to secure release through a property-backed arrangement.

Later, he failed to appear for sentencing.

A warrant was issued.

The legal system must balance several competing principles when determining pretrial release, including public safety, court appearance and the presumption of innocence before conviction.

California’s bail system also operates under statutory and constitutional constraints.

The fact that someone released from custody later commits a serious crime does not by itself establish that every earlier court decision was unlawful.

It does, however, raise legitimate questions about risk assessment, supervision, compliance and the effectiveness of procedures used to respond to failures to appear.

### 14. Why Criminal History Can Affect Release Decisions

A defendant’s criminal history may be relevant to bail and release determinations under applicable law.

Prior convictions, failures to appear, pending allegations and evidence of danger to others can influence the analysis.

McKay’s history, as summarized in the video, included violent offenses, prior imprisonment and subsequent criminal proceedings.

Those circumstances help explain why the release and outstanding warrant became central subjects of discussion after Cordero’s death.

A responsible legal analysis must nevertheless distinguish between facts established through convictions and allegations that remained unresolved.

### 15. What Happens When a Murder Suspect Dies Before Trial?

When a suspected offender dies before prosecution, the criminal case against that person cannot proceed to an ordinary trial and sentencing.

There can be no subsequent criminal conviction of the deceased suspect.

But the investigation does not necessarily end.

Authorities may continue examining the homicide, documenting evidence, reviewing police tactics and determining whether any additional persons were involved.

In this case, McKay’s death ended the immediate threat and the possibility of prosecuting him for the deputy’s murder.

It did not eliminate the need to establish what happened.

### 16. The Public-Safety Question

The killing of Deputy Cordero raised concerns extending beyond the individual encounter.

How should courts evaluate the release of defendants with violent criminal histories?

How should authorities respond when a person fails to appear for sentencing?

What procedures are available to locate and apprehend someone with an outstanding warrant?

And how can police balance urgent apprehension against the risks of high-speed pursuits?

These questions do not have one simple answer.

They involve judicial discretion, statutory requirements, police resources, constitutional protections and public-safety policy.

The case became a painful example of what can happen when a wanted person encounters law enforcement while apparently determined to avoid returning to custody.

### 17. Remembering Deputy Isaiah Cordero

The human cost of this case cannot be reduced to charges, warrants or pursuit tactics.

Deputy Isaiah Cordero was 32 years old.

He was performing a routine law-enforcement duty when he was fatally shot.

The transcript concludes with scenes from his memorial service, where loved ones express their grief and colleagues honor his service.

His end-of-watch date was December 29, 2022.

The final radio tribute marks the loss of a deputy whose life ended during a traffic stop that should have been ordinary.

## Final Outcome

A missing rear license plate led to a routine traffic stop.

That stop ended with the fatal shooting of Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Isaiah Cordero.

Investigators identified William McKay as the suspected killer and launched a massive search.

Within hours, officers located McKay, pursued him across Southern California freeways and attempted to disable his vehicle using spike strips and tactical interventions.

The chase ended in an armed confrontation.

McKay was killed by police gunfire.

Investigators recovered a firearm and other evidence from his vehicle, while the broader case renewed questions about bail decisions, outstanding warrants, repeat violent offenders and officer safety.

For the family, friends and colleagues of Deputy Cordero, however, the central fact was much simpler.

A 32-year-old deputy went to work and never came home.

**End of Watch: December 29, 2022.**

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## Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for news reporting, commentary and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The narrative is based on the supplied video transcript, including its description of investigative findings, criminal history, forensic evidence and memorial proceedings. Not all statements have been independently verified against official records. Legal analysis describes general United States and California law and does not constitute a definitive judicial finding about individual officers’ actions, bail decisions or criminal liability. Readers seeking legal advice should consult a qualified attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction.

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He Was Stopped for a Missing License Plate — Minutes Later, a Deputy Was Killed and a Massive Police Manhunt Ended in a Deadly Gunfight