The Antelope Valley Times

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Arraignment postponed again for accused cop killer

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Sgt. Steve Owen [Image courtesy LASD]
Sgt. Steve Owen [Image courtesy LASD]
LANCASTER – A parolee accused of shooting a Lancaster sheriff’s sergeant responding to a burglary call, then pumping four additional shots into the veteran lawman once he was down, appeared in an Antelope Valley courtroom Monday but did not enter a plea.

Arraignment was postponed a second time — to Dec. 15 — for Trenton Trevon Lovell, 27, of Lancaster, who is charged with capital murder in the Oct. 5 killing of Sgt. Steve Owen. The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer in the performance of his duties and murder for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest. [View a photo of Lovell from a prior court appearance here.]

Prosecutors will determine later whether to seek the death penalty against Lovell, who is being held without bail.

Lovell is also charged with one count each of attempted murder involving another sheriff’s deputy and possession of a firearm by a felon, along with two counts each of first-degree residential robbery and false imprisonment by violence — the latter charge includes a knife use allegation.

The attempted murder charge includes an allegation that he used a patrol car as a deadly and dangerous weapon against a second sheriff’s employee who arrived at the scene.
The criminal complaint also alleges that Lovell was on parole at the time of the crime and that he had been convicted of robbery as a juvenile in 2006 and again as an adult in 2009, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Blake.
Owen, 53, was shot to death as he responded to a young mother’s 911 call reporting a burglary at her apartment building in the 3200 block of West Avenue J-7 in Lancaste.
Sheriff Jim McDonnell alleged that Lovell shot Owen behind a residence after being confronted by the sergeant, who radioed that he had the suspect at gunpoint before he was shot.
“Sergeant Owen approached the suspect in response to a burglary call,” McDonnell previously said. “The suspect immediately shot Sergeant Owen. He then stood over and executed Sergeant Owen by firing four additional rounds into his body. He then unsuccessfully searched the body for the sergeant’s weapon with the intent to use it to murder the first responding deputy.”
The first responding deputy fired numerous times at Lovell, who had pointed his weapon at him, striking the suspect once in the shoulder, the sheriff said.
Lovell allegedly jumped into the sergeant’s patrol vehicle while a second deputy arrived at the scene, then rammed the deputy’s vehicle with Owen’s patrol car.
“Not only did the suspect want to kill our deputies, he held two teenagers hostage in a neighboring house until they were rescued by the heroic efforts of our Special Enforcement Bureau and our Lancaster Station personnel,” McDonnell said.
The two teens were held at knifepoint, according to prosecutors.
The gunman continued to try to escape and attempted to climb over a wall, but he was confronted by deputies and taken into custody. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
Owen’s wife, who is a sheriff’s Arson-Explosives detective, made it to the hospital before her husband died.
Owens was a 29-year department veteran who had worked in the Antelope Valley for years and was well known for his community involvement, especially with area youths. He was promoted to sergeant five years ago.
Owen’s alleged killer has been arrested 11 times, first as a juvenile on suspicion of selling marijuana, and was jailed or imprisoned twice, according to the sheriff.

Previous related story:

Thousands bid farewell to Sgt. Steve Owen

Parolee charged with murdering Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sergeant

Suspect executed sergeant after wounding him, sheriff says

Sheriff’s sergeant slain in Lancaster

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

21 comments for "Arraignment postponed again for accused cop killer"

  1. Ah yes the state will treat this criminal with three hots and a cot at the tax payers expense, what a blessing. (sarcasm applied)

    RIP Sgt Owen… May you forever be in our hearts.

  3. Well this young man has ruined his life and many family members. So sad and wish it wouldn’t have happened. I understand he told teenagers to go upstairs and stay away from him. Thank God he didn’t hurt the kids! Hopefully death row won’t take 30 + years. God bless the family and fellow officers of Steve Owens. This shouldn’t have happened.

  4. I judge a cop on how they treat a homeless person.. or a drunk passed out behind a market… or a black drug addict… because its SO easy for a cop to abuse their authority when dealing with those who have no voice… and who nobody will believe… So for me to have sympathy for this cop.. I need to believe he was a GOOD cop.. One who treated all with respect, no matter what their status is life was.

  7. I find it weird that the AV Times delete any comment offensive towards the police officer but all the people who who tragically lost their lives people get to post whatever comment they like about it why is that

  8. A man killed a cop he get the death penalty a cop killing innocent man he get off scot-free they should start giving police officers who kill innocent people the death penalty there are also scumbags

      • That’s true all lives matter!!!! A cop is also a person if you kill you deserve to be killed No exceptions as what your career may be. my condolences to the family of the officer RIP.
        no one has the right to take a live. the Law need to be fair with everybody that is a human being.

  11. The district atty. for the other two Police shot Palm Springs (San Bernardino) is going for the death penalty. I sure hope LA County steps up and stops being wimpy and goes for the death penalty.

  12. It’s a sad thing and day when a life is taken….sorry for his lost, my deepest condolences to his family and friends, as well as the lives of innocent church goers in bible study….killed by such an animal as well, and bad cops that kill just because they can….

  13. kill him , hang him , burn him i dont [removed] care !!!! just get rid or this ignorant piece of [removed]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. he’s a coward… man enough to execute, but not man enough to accept the consequences. It’s only going to get worse now that idiots in CA passed prop 57

    • Couldnt agree qitb you more, at least now we know what makes up Los Angeles, prop 57 is a damn joke..