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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