Fallen Sheriff's Sergeant Mourned After Lancaster Shooting
LANCASTER (CBSLA.com) — A memorial continued to grown Thursday for a 53-year-old Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant who was fatally shot by a parolee while responding to a residential burglary call in Lancaster.
Flags will remain lowered at half-staff to honor Sgt. Steve Owen, a 29-year veteran of the department, who was shot by a gunman Wednesday.
Mourners gathered this morning at the Lancaster sheriff's station in front of a memorial of candles, flowers, balloons, and condolence cards.
The shooting unfolded around noon on Wednesday in the 3200 block of West Avenue J-7, where Owen was checking the back of the apartment building, according to the sheriff's department.
Paramedics transported him to a hospital where he later died.
The gunman then ran to the front of the location and attempted to steal the sergeant's patrol car, which prompted a second deputy-involved shooting to occur.
The second deputy was injured, but not shot, and was transported to a hospital.
The gunman fled from the vehicle on foot to a home.
Two teenagers inside the residence notified authorities of the gunman, and a SWAT team responded to the scene.
At one point, the gunman tried to escape and attempted to climb over a wall, but he was confronted by deputies and was taken into custody.
According to deputies, the suspect sustained a gunshot wound to his upper body during the incident.
Detectives recovered a firearm at the scene.
Owen, a married father of three grown children, had been promoted to sergeant five years ago.
His death marks the first of an active-duty department member in 11 years.
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