STEVE OWEN

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sergeant, Steve Owen, 53, was killed October 5th after he was shot while responding to a call of a residential burglary in Lancaster.

The shooting occurred as Owen and his partner responded to a 911 call about 12:35 p.m. from a woman reporting a burglary in progress at an apartment building in the 3200 block of West Avenue J-7.

As Owen checked the rear of the apartment building, a gunman appeared and shot him in the face.

Owen’s partner, who was at the front of the building, ran to the rear and found the wounded sergeant. Owen was rushed to the hospital in a sheriff’s cruiser. He died hours later.

The gunman, meanwhile, ran to the front and tried to steal Owen’s cruiser. Another sheriff’s deputy arrived and opened fire when the gunman threw the car into reverse and rammed another cruiser, injuring a deputy inside.

After the collision, the gunman ran into a nearby home where two teenagers were inside. One teen was able to send a text message to alert authorities.

Shortly after 2 p.m., sheriff’s SWAT deputies forced their way into the home and a man fled through the back, where he tried to hop a fence and was caught, Capt. Jack Ewell said.

The suspect was struck in the upper torso by gunfire. Authorities did not name him, but said he is on active parole. A weapon was recovered, though authorities did not give a description.

Sgt Owen was a 29-year veteran of the department. He leaves behind his wife, who is a member of the department’s Arson Explosive Unit, and 2 children.