Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Owens was shot and killed as he and his driver responded to a call regarding a man armed with a pistol.
Deputy Owens confronted the man in Dogtown and attempted to place him under arrest. As he did so, the suspect fired, striking Deputy Owens and killing him instantly. Deputy Owen's driver then shot and killed the suspect.
Deputy Owens was survived by his wife and six children. He was buried in the New Bethel Baptist Cemetery (now the Dogtown Cemetery) in Dogtown.
Survivors
Deputy Owens was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-5607632F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Owens served with the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Quincy community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Owens.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Luff Owens is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Luff Owens's cause is highlighted.
How John Luff Owens Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Luff Owens is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Luff Owens was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Gadsden County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
