Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Rudolph “Cookie” Vejar was assigned to Sheriff’s Headquarters at the time of his murder. It is unclear whether Deputy Vejar was off-duty or working undercover at a speakeasy. At dawn, two men held Vejar and four others hostage while they demanded the night’s receipts. The owner told them that the money had already been collected. But the robbers did not believe him and one held his bare foot to a lighted match to obtain the truth. The victim screamed and was pistol-whipped. During the commotion, Deputy Vejar drew his revolver and shot one robber dead while the second suspect shot Vejar in the mouth. Mortally wounded, Vejar returned fire, hitting the suspect in the chest.