John Luff Owens

Gadsden County Sheriff's Office — Quincy, FL

Felonious

End of Watch March 13, 1921

Age 47

The Vigil Panel 40 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Gadsden County Sheriff's Office

Location Quincy, FL

Platform Identity gcso.gadsden.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 13, 1921

Age 47

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Shot and Killed

Deputy Sheriff John Luff Owens 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 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 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Gadsden County Sheriff's Office

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious