A Lancaster man pled guilty Thursday to the murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Steve Owen five years ago.
Trenton Trevor Lovell, 31, faces multiple charges – including murder – after he allegedly killed Sgt. Steve Owen, who was actively responding to a residential burglary outside a Lancaster apartment complex in 2016.
Lovell entered his plea on Thursday to one count of each of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, person present, possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of first-degree residential robbery and false imprisonment by violence, officials said.
He admitted to the special circumstance allegation of a peace officer and special allegations of using a firearm to murder Owen, using a patrol car as a deadly weapon during the attempted murder of a second peace officer on scene, using a knife in a robbery and false imprisonment after he fled from the scene of the murder, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office officials.
Owen, a decorated, 29-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, was responding to a reported burglary call with the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on Oct. 5, 2016 when he was shot and killed on Avenue J in Lancaster.
Lovell allegedly shot Owen several times both as he approached the location and while standing over the victim’s collapsed body, according to officials.
See Related: Santa Clarita, Lancaster Law Enforcement Honor Fallen Sgt Steve Owen One Year Later
“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,” reads a statement on the Blue Lives Matter page. “As Owens approached the rear of the building, an armed suspect shot him in the face.”
Lovell reportedly ran past Owen’s collapsed body and jumped into the sergeant’s cruiser parked at the front of the building. The suspect put the car in reverse in an attempt to run over another deputy nearby who opened fire.
The suspect ended up colliding with another cruiser, injuring another deputy inside, according to officials.
See Related: Man Accused Of Murdering LASD Sgt. Owen Returns To Court
“He then bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot. He ran into a nearby home which was occupied by two teens,” the Blue Lives Matter statement continues. “One of the teens quickly contacted police to notify them of the suspect’s location. SWAT responded and forced their way into the home but the suspect was able to flee out the back. He jumped a fence and ran into another backyard where he was quickly surrounded by deputies. He was taken into custody. At some point during the event, most likely during the initial collision, he was struck in the torso by a round fired by deputies.”
During his preliminary hearing in 2018, Lovell pled not guilty.
At the same hearing, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Zachary Anderson identified Lovell as the man he saw standing over Owen’s body outside the apartment complex, officials said.
Lovell faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is scheduled to be sentenced on May 17.
As a result of the incident, Owen received the Sheriff’s Department’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, for his active role in safely placing an armed suspect in custody without lethal force.
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