[UPDATED with Randal Quan Speaks:] Monica Quan and Keith Lawrence Memorialized

See the update at the end of this post on the service that featured Randal Quan speaking.


ORIGINAL POST, FEB. 22, 4:38 P.M.: There will be a memorial service Sunday for Monica Quan and Keith Lawrence at the place where the engaged couple met, Concordia University in Irvine.

But unlike the live coverage from the services for law-enforcement officers who were also shot to death by ex-cop-turned-cop-killer Christopher Jordan Dorner, the Concordia event will not be photographed or videotaped by the media.
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That is, the families of the deceased have asked the media to put down their lenses for the 11 a.m. service.

“The
Quan and Lawrence families request that members of the media respect
their privacy during the memorial service for Monica and Keith,” reads an email from Concordia. “No
cameras or video equipment will be allowed on the Concordia University
Irvine property for the memorial service at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013.”

After a four-letter career at Walnut High School, where Quan earned All-CIF,
All-Baseline League and all-region honors and was later entered in the
school's Hall of Fame for setting several school records, she began her
college career at Long Beach State, where she spent two seasons before
transferring to Concordia. She earned her exercise and sport
science degree there in 2007 and completed
her master's in 2009.

Lawrence, who graduated from Concordia in 2008, also played basketball there in the
2007-08 season and made the all-tournament team during the 2007 NAIA
National Championship in Kansas City, where the Eagles finished
runner-up to Oklahoma City.

Quan was assistant basketball coach for Cal State Fullerton's women's team, and Lawrence had been recently hired as a security officer at USC when the bodies of the engaged couple were found shot to death in his car in their Irvine condo-complex parking lot. Dorner's manifesto admitting the Irvine murders were retaliation against Quan's father, retired Los Angeles Police Department Captain Randal Quan, was published the next day, plunging Southern California into a six-day nightmare.

For full Dorner coverage, visit:
Monica Quan, Titans Basketball Coach, and Fiance Keith Lawrence Found Shot to Death
Christopher Jordan Dorner War Is Over!
Christopher Jordan Dorner was the Man in Burned-Down Cabin: Coroner
OC Weekly Chris Dorner archives

UPDATE, FEB. 25, 2:17 P.M.: More than 1,700 people were estimated to be in the main Concordia University gym for Sunday's service, and about 600 more watched from an overflow room with video monitors.

Among those who spoke was Randal Quan, Monica's father, who said, “It is not for me or anyone else to
question why God has done what he has done.” He recalled his daughter teasing the retired police captain for failing to check the background of her intended, Keith Lawrence, adding he drew comfort from knowing his ninue–which is Chinese for “little girl”–was madly in love with a public safety officer. Lawrence had recently joined the force at USC.

Kevin Lawrence Sr., Keith's father, also spoke while donning the neon cap he'd wear to his son's basketball games so the player could pick his dad out in the crowd. “I'm here if you ever need me; look down,” he said to his son, “because I'll be looking up.”

The father also joked, “If Keith walked in here right now, he'd say, 'Y'all are messing up my basketball floor.'” His son and Monica met and fell in love at Concordia, where both played hoops. The men's locker room features a display of this inspirational Keith Lawrence quote: “Don't take the game for granted.
Enjoy every practice. Go as hard as you can because you never know
which play might be your last.”

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