LASD sergeant dies after being shot in Lancaster; 1 in custody

by Jenna Warner in National — Oct 10, 2016

Sgt. Owen had worked most of his law enforcement career in the Antelope Valley, and on Wednesday, he was responding to a residential burglary call when he encountered Trenton Trevon Lovell, authorities said.

 
In this still frame from video provided by KABC-TV, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies take into custody a wounded man, who is a suspect in the shooting death of a deputy, in Lancaster, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016.

Following the shooting, Lovell searched Owen’s body for his gun and then attempted to steal his patrol cruiser, which led to a shootout with another deputy on scene, according to investigators.

No other suspects were being sought, according to the sheriff’s department.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has identified the Lancaster man accused of murdering LA Sheriff’s Sergeant Steve Owen yesterday in California.

Sgt. Steven Owen, 53, died at a hospital Wednesday about two hours after he was gunned down behind a home in Lancaster, a desert community north of Los Angeles.

Black and blue balloons and a large photo of Owen were next to a sheriff’s department badge with a black band over it inside of a case.

“(In our Facebook groups) SCV Emergency Now and SCV Helicopters, Lights and Sirens, we appreciate daily the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform”, said Kari Hewitt, one of the group’s admins.

In 2014, Sgt. Owen was one of several Lancaster deputies who received Sheriff’s Department medals for meritorious conduct. He fired several shots at Lovell, who had run around to the front of the building and was trying to steal Owen’s patrol vehicle, according to the report.

“I just couldn’t believe it”. Dozens of residents and deputies also attended a vigil outside the sheriff’s station in Lancaster, where they held hands, sang and prayed together.

“They brought him back three times“.

“It would have been best if they met him”, Bowler said when asked what he was like to people who never met him.

Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016.

Investigators said another deputy in front heard gunfire, ran around the building and found Owen wounded. Katz said that Owen’s wife, his adult son and daughter, and his mother were able to see him in the hospital before he died. A wounded Lovell then stole Owens’ patrol vehicle and rammed it into another patrol auto before bolting into a nearby apartment. Owen, who also is survived by another adult son, authorities said. One of the teens quickly contacted police to notify them of the suspect’s location. Capt. Steven Katz said the sergeant was a prolific member of the department. He later abandoned it and ran into a house, where SWAT team members forced him out the back and arrested him.

News reports showed a bloody, shirtless man on his knees being handcuffed.

“You could not find a more beloved law enforcement officer in this community”, Parris said.

Lovell, 27, of Lancaster, was on parole, authorities said, when he faced off with Owen outside an apartment complex.