U.S. Navy · United States 
Donald Jack Sowma
1976
Donald Jack Sowma Sr. served the U.S. Navy for 4 years. Donald served in the Korean War and the Cold War.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Gunshot wound
Mechanism
Firearm
What Happened
Sergeant Donald Sowma was shot and killed after he and other officers responded to a silent burglar alarm. While he was searching the premises, he was shot by a suspect. The suspect surrendered to a SWAT team six hours later. The 32-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on July 7, 1977. He was denied parole on November 10, 2022. His next parole hearing is in October of 2024. Sergeant Sowma had served with the Cypress Police Department for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and four children. In his memory, a street near the Cypress Civic Center is named Sowma Way.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
Service Record
U.S. Navy
1950 – 1954
Conflicts
Korean War
Cold War
Also Served
Cypress Police Department
Sergeant
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtprn36erj1cjzh17ba4e
Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
August 2, 2026
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