Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Richard Quiñones dies while surfing in Malibu

Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Richard Quiñones is being remembered for the profound impact he had on the lives he touched both in and out of the courtroom. Quiñones died Wednesday after suffering a medical emergency while surfing off the Malibu coast. He was 55.

Newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman praised Quiñones in a statement, describing him as highly respected and well-regarded by judges, opposing counsel, and colleagues alike.

"Richard was especially proud to be a member of our office," Hochman said. "He was a skilled trial lawyer who advocated for victims. He was kind, compassionate, and a consummate gentleman."

Criminal defense attorney Richard Chacon, a close friend of Quiñones, described him as a deeply thoughtful and conscientious individual.

"He was mild mannered but passionate about being an excellent lawyer, and he was one. He was also a great friend and will be missed sorely," he said.

Quiñones, who immigrated from Colombia with his mother and sister, had two passions: his children and a love of dancing, his friend and colleague Deputy District Attorney Scott Dominguez said.

"During lunchtime he would give salsa dance lessons, free of charge for anybody in the courthouse who wanted to learn to dance salsa," Dominguez said. "He was a single dad and when his children were off school, he'd bring them to the office. They would do their homework in his office. They were the beginning and the end of every one of his conversations. They were his life."

While attending Loyola Law School, Quiñones worked as a bilingual elementary school teacher. After graduating, he expressed a desire for public service, telling friends that giving back was the only way he wanted to live his life -- a sentiment he shared during his 2022 campaign for a Los Angeles County judgeship.

Colleagues described him as a source of inspiration, citing his professionalism, kindness, and generosity.

"He was a great lawyer. Attorneys on both sides of counsel table admired him for the way he handled himself and treated everyone with respect," Dominguez said. "Younger prosecutors really admired him. He always had really good advice for them. Both legal and professional."

Deputy District Attorney Louis Avila Jr. had lunch with Quiñones every time he traveled from the high desert to downtown Los Angeles on business.

"He was very proud of the fact that he was a prosecutor and that his job, so to speak, was to seek justice. He loved the concept of being in that position of helping people," Avila said. "That's why he was so fired up to be a judge. He ran and even though he didn't win this last time around he felt strongly about the process and was planning on running again."

During his 25-year career, Quiñones handled some of the most harrowing cases, including the prosecution of Noe Torres. Torres was convicted and sentenced to 21 years in prison for the horrific 2016 murder of his 13-month-old daughter, whom he fatally stabbed in their North Hollywood apartment before setting the room on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime. People v. Torres, LAVLA084593-01, (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Oct. 22, 2016).

His supervisor, Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney Dayan V Mathai, remembered him as a generous colleague.

"I joined this division a year ago as the assistant head deputy. I had heard about Richard before, but we quickly became friends," Mathai said. "We would go to lunch every week and grab dinners together. He was an amazing lawyer who tried many cases and had a very strong sense of justice and fairness. He was universally liked -- everybody just really liked him, and he was a really great attorney."

Quiñones is survived by his mother, Yolanda; his children, Julia, Sebastian, and Mia; his sister, Rosie; and several nieces and nephews. Details of a memorial service have not yet been announced.