On July 10, 1991, Officer Ginn, a nine year veteran assigned to the Motorcycle Squad, was on routine patrol around 1:45 p.m. Officer Ginn smelled smoke coming from a house on Pecan street in Pasadena. He suspected the smoke was that of burning marijuana and stopped to investigate.

Officer Ginn entered the backyard of the residence through an open gate and spotted a male suspect burning material in a barbeque pit. As Officer Ginn approached the suspect to talk to him, the suspect ran into the garage and grabbed a pistol and pointed it at Officer Ginn. At that point gunfire was exchanged between the officer and the suspect. Neither Officer Ginn nor the suspect were hit in this initial exchange of gunfire, however the suspected managed to retrieve an M-1 carbine rifle from just inside the house. At that point Officer Ginn had already radioed for backup and was attempting to reload his duty revolver and retreat to an area of better cover. The suspect opened fire on Officer Ginn and struck him several times. Although Officer Ginn was wearing a ballistic vest, one shot struck his chest from a side entry wound. As Officer Ginn lay dying the suspect stood over him and fired one more round into the officer's head. The suspect, a mental patient, took an elderly female neighbor hostage. After a twenty hour standoff the suspect committed suicide.

Officer Ginn was survived by his wife and two young daughters.