Trenton Trevon Lovell, 31, had two prior convictions and was on parole at the time of the slaying of Sgt. Steve Owen, 53, who was shot five times on Oct. 5, 2016, after responding to a burglary call in Lancaster.
Family and friends of Owen addressed the court in downtown Los Angeles before the sentence was imposed.
“Mercy? Screw that,” one of Owen’s colleagues told Lovell. “I wish the same mercy on you that you had on him.”
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Owen was answering a report of a break-in when he confronted Lovell at gunpoint. Lovell shot the veteran sergeant once in the head before standing over him and firing additional fatal shots. A second deputy who arrived on the scene shot and wounded Lovell, who attempted to steal the officer’s car before fleeing on foot. Lovell then broke into a nearby home and held two teenagers hostage for an hour. The teens were not physically injured, and Lovell was captured after leaving the home.
During a videotaped interview with investigators later that day, Lovell confessed to fatally shooting Owen, according to evidence presented before Lovell’s guilty plea to a first-degree murder charge. Prior to the imposition of the sentence, Owen’s daughter, Shannon, told the court that she spoke to her father the day he died, “and hoped my words were heard by his soul.” As for the defendant, she said, “We are now all serving life sentences because of your choice.”
Lovell, who did not speak at the hearing, also pleaded guilty to a series of other crimes the same day as Owen’s killing. Those included an attempted murder charge for using Owen’s patrol car to ram a second patrol car, along with two counts each of first-degree residential robbery and false imprisonment by violence for fleeing to a nearby home occupied by a 19-year-old woman and her 17-year-old brother, where Lovell holed up for about an hour before fleeing. Lovell also pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree residential burglary and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The murder charge included the special circumstance allegation that Owen was lawfully performing his duties as a peace officer when he was intentionally killed. Prosecutors had opted not to seek the death penalty for Lovell, who had two prior convictions from 2006 and 2009 for robbery. Lovell agreed to waive all appellate rights as a result of the plea agreement and acknowledged that he understood that he was facing a prison sentence with no foreseeable chance of release.
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Owen’s killing prompted an outpouring of support for his family and remembrances of his dedication to his job. Law enforcement officers from as far away as New York and public officials, including then-Gov. Jerry Brown, attended his funeral service. A section of state Route 14 in the Antelope Valley was dedicated in his name on the one-year anniversary of his death.
In a statement issued after Lovell’s guilty plea, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Owen “sacrificed his life to protect the community he served.”
“This plea will not bring Sergeant Owen back, but will hopefully provide some small measure of peace to his family,” the district attorney said.
Previous related stories:
Parolee pleads guilty to killing LA County sheriff’s sergeant in Lancaster
Parolee pleads not guilty in sheriff’s sergeant’s killing
Parolee ordered to stand trial on charges of killing sheriff’s sergeant
Hearing begins for parolee charges with killing sheriff’s sergeant
Portion of Hwy 14 named in honor of LASD Sgt. Steve Owen
Sgt. Steven Owen Memorial Park dedicated to his family
5 arrested in connection to murder of Sgt. Owen
Parolee pleads not guilty to fatally shooting sergeant
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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Best of the best says
Sgt. Steve Owen was the best of the best, loved by thousands. What good he has done in his life on the job, and volunteering will remain.
DRH says
Just shoot him. Stop wasting tax dollars keeping people like this alive. Or better yet just put 2 in his knees and bury him alive. We know it was him beyond any doubt.
Bri says
Hallelujah! Rot in prison you scumbag.
#29974088 says
How does Bri feel about Derek Chavin rotting in prison?
Lily says
Sgt. Steve Owen, a good man. He did so much good and will be missed beyond measure.
Tim Scott says
Well, no. I’m not happy he was killed, but for the “it’s just a few bad apples” crowd this was definitely one of them. Turned Lancaster Station into Wrecks Parris’ lap dogs with no regard for the law or department policy and helped cost the department, the county, and the city a mountain of money.
But corrupt cops deserve jail time, not execution.
GrammaSB says
I agree with Sgt Owens daughter it is a life sentence for the family as well; I speak from personal experience. RIP to a good man and strength to his family, I am on year 43 as a surviving family member of a homicide victim.
Tom Scott says
Lovell will have plenty of time to play basketball and lift weights.
Tim Scott says
I’m saddened by this news
Tim Scott says
LOL…there’s always some lame that thinks by putting my name on their comment they will look less stupid than they usually do. Man it is really so good for my ego.