Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Steve Owen was shot and killed after responding to a burglary-in-progress call in the 3200 block of West Avenue J-7 in Lancaster, California.
He was checking the rear of the apartment building when the subject emerged and shot him in the head. Then he stood over his body and fired additional shots. The other deputy on scene heard the shooting and ran to the rear of the building, where he found Sergeant Owen wounded. As he rendered aid, the suspect attempted to steal Sergeant Owen's patrol car, but crashed into a second patrol car as the second deputy attempted to stop him.
The man then fled into a nearby home, where he took two teenagers hostage for several hours. As a SWAT team entered the apartment, the man fled but was quickly apprehended.
The suspect, who was on parole at the time, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without parole in 2021.
Sergeant Owen had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 29 years. He is survived by his wife and three children. His wife also served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-7F1795F1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
29 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Owen gave the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Owen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Steven C. Owen is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept., 58 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Steven C. Owen's cause is highlighted.
How Steven C. Owen Compares
Offender Outcome
Life without parole
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Steven C. Owen is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Steven C. Owen was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
119 officers from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
