Ronald Wilbur Owens II
Police Officer

Ronald Wilbur Owens II

Lakewood Police Department — Lakewood, WA
Felonious
End of Watch November 29, 2009
Age 37
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 158 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Ronald Owens, Sergeant Mark Renninger, Officer Tina DeLong-Griswold, and Officer Greg Richards were shot and killed in an ambush style attack while sitting inside a coffee shop in Parkland.

All four officers had just finished a call and went to the coffee shop to complete paperwork. Sergeant Renninger, Officer Owens, and Officer DeLong-Griswold were seated at a table, and Officer Richards was in line waiting to order coffee. The suspect entered the shop, walked directly over to the table where the three officers were sitting, drew a 9 mm handgun, and shot Officer DeLong-Griswold, killing her. The suspect then shot Sergeant Renninger, killing him.

After shooting the two officers, the suspect’s weapon jammed, and he became involved in a physical fight with Officer Owens. During the struggle, the suspect drew a second weapon, a .38 caliber revolver, and shot and killed Officer Owens. Officer Richards, hearing the shots, moved toward the suspect and became involved in a physical fight with him. Officer Richards was able to shoot the suspect once in the torso before the suspect was able to gain control of his weapon. The suspect then shot Officer Richards, killing him.

The suspect fled the location, prompting a two-day manhunt. He was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer after the officer observed him near a stolen car. The officer attempted to take the suspect into custody, but the suspect refused to follow commands and attempted to flee, prompting the officer to fatally shoot him.

Officer Owens had served with the Lakewood Police Department for five years and had a total of twelve years of law enforcement service.

Survivors

Survivors include his daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-220D6A3F
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.
Police Officer Owens gave the Lakewood Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lakewood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Owens.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Lakewood, Pierce County, WA
Platform Identity lpd.pierce.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 29, 2009
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Police Officer Ronald Wilbur Owens II 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 WA, 187 of 340 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55% of this state's fallen. That is 55 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Lakewood Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lakewood Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
WA — Statewide
187
of 340 officers
55% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald Wilbur Owens II's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Ronald Wilbur Owens II Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald Wilbur Owens II is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald Wilbur Owens II was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location