[Police and LE Magazine] The murders of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Steve Owen and Palm Springs Police Officers Jose "Gil" Vega and Leslie Zerebny by two crazed and armed career criminals underscore what all cops and their families already know--there is indeed a war on police. It is, in fact, the age-old battle of good versus evil.
Although the investigations of all three murders are currently ongoing, we already know some facts that have been released by the victim officers' individual departments. And it is important that we understand what happened in these tragedies.
The Best of Us
Career LASD Sgt. Steve Owen was, at 53, ready to retire. He was investigating a burglary on Oct. 5 when he reportedly encountered career criminal and parolee Trenton Trevon Lovell, 27, of Lancaster, CA, behind an apartment building. There was a brief gun battle between the two. Owen was wounded.
L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell told the press that after wounding Owen, Lovell stood over the deputy and pumped four more bullets into his head "execution style."
Officials say Lovell attempted to flee in the sergeant's patrol car. However, he was soon confronted by a second deputy who opened fire on the suspect in the vehicle. Lovell then reportedly rammed this deputy's patrol car, injuring him as well. Lovell was wounded in the exchange of gunfire and was taken into custody.
Con't. |