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Man Accused Of Murdering LASD Sgt. Steve Owen Ordered To Stand Trial

The man accused of killing Sgt. Steve Owen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was ordered to stand trial Thursday.


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Trenton Trevon Lovell, 28, will face murder and other charges stemming from the 2016 shooting death of a sergeant outside a Lancaster apartment complex.

Lovell is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 4.

He is accused of killing Sgt. Steve Owen, 53, on Oct. 5, 2016. Prosecutors said Lovell shot Owen, then pumped more bullets into him when the lawman was already on the ground.

Owen, a decorated, 29-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, was working out of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on Oct. 5, 2016 when he responded to a reported residential burglary on Avenue J in Lancaster.

“While responding to the burglary on the 3200 block of West Avenue J-7, Owen had his partner remain in the front of the location while he went around to check the rear,” read a statement on the Blue Lives Matter website. “As Owen approached the rear of the building, an armed suspect shot him in the face.”

Lovell faces a murder charge, which includes the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer during the performance of his duties, and murder for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest, according to the criminal complaint filed by prosecutors.

Along with murder, Lovell is charged with one count of attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of first-degree residential robbery and two counts of false imprisonment by violence.

During the preliminary hearing, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy, Zachary Anderson, identified  Lovell as the man he saw standing over Owen’s body outside a Lancaster apartment complex.

Related: Man Accused Of Killing LASD Sgt. Steve Owen Faces Preliminary Hearing

“He was still breathing, he had a pulse,” Anderson said of the sergeant after the shooting.

Anderson then yelled at Lovell to get on the ground, and Lovell allegedly pointed the gun at Anderson, according to the deputy’s testimony.

After the incident, Lovell reportedly jumped into Owen’s cruiser and Anderson opened fire when the suspect put the car in reverse in an attempt to run him over. The suspect collided with another cruiser, injuring the deputy inside, according to officials.

Lovell has been held without bail since his arrest that day.

He faces a murder charge, which includes the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer during the performance of his duties, and murder for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest, according to the criminal complaint filed by prosecutors.

Along with murder, Lovell is charged with one count of attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of first-degree residential robbery and two counts of false imprisonment by violence.

The attempted murder charge includes an allegation that Lovell used a patrol car as a deadly and dangerous weapon against Anderson.

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.

Prosecutors will later determine whether to seek the death penalty.

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Man Accused Of Murdering LASD Sgt. Steve Owen Ordered To Stand Trial

3 comments

  1. This murderer will be out in sixteen years. Hopefully, some will get justice then.

  2. Outstanding to see justice is in the process of properly being served in this tragic and horrific crime. The suspect blatantly murdered Seeg

  3. Outstanding to see justice in the process of properly being served against this worthless and pathetic excuse for a human being. Sergeant Owen appears to have been both a hero and a great man from all I have read. Thanks to all police officers for their dedicated service. Stay safe out there!!

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About Lorena Mejia

Lorena was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She attended California State University Northridge where she double majored in Journalism and Chicano Studies and minored in Spanish Language Journalism. While at CSUN, she worked for the university's television and radio newscast. Through her journalistic work, she earned membership to Kappa Tau Alpha, a national honor society for selected journalists. Her passion for the community has introduced her to new people, ideas, and issues that have helped shape the person she is today. Lorena’s skills include using cameras as a tool to empower people by informing them and creating change in their communities. Some of her hobbies include reading the news, exploring the outdoors, and being an avid animal lover. To contact Lorena, send your messages to lorena@hometownstation.com.