Thousands to attend memorial service for sheriff's sergeant killed in Lancaster

LANCASTER, Calif. -- Family members, government officials and thousands of law enforcement officers on Thursday are expected to attend a memorial service for Sgt. Steve Owen. Owen was a decorated 29-year-veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Gov. Jerry Brown, state Attorney General Kamala Harris and Sheriff Jim McDonnell will be among those paying their respects to Owen, 53, about a week after he was slain while responding to a burglary call in Lancaster.

A procession in that city was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. in front of the local sheriff's station, where Owen had been assigned for the past five years. The caravan will depart from the facility and make its way to Lancaster Baptist Church.

Hundreds of law enforcement vehicles were lined up on a street in preparation for the procession, which will begin on southbound Sierra Highway, just south of Lancaster Boulevard. It is then expected to follow a planned 13-mile route:

-- southbound Sierra Highway to East Avenue L;

-- eastbound East Avenue L to 30th Street East;

-- northbound 30th Street East to East Avenue J;

-- eastbound East Avenue J to 40th Street East; and

-- northbound 40th Street East to East Lancaster Boulevard.

The memorial service is set for 10 a.m. It is not open to the public but will be livestreamed, along with the procession, online at ABC7.com/live and on the ABC7 app.

The beloved sergeant was shot "execution-style" outside a home Oct. 5, authorities said, as he and a deputy responded to a report of a burglary in the 3200 block of West Avenue J7.

Owen is survived by his wife, Tania, an arson explosives detective with the sheriff's department; his daughter Shannon, 22; and sons Branden, 24, and Chad, 27.

"The continuous outpouring of encouragement, gratitude, and respect for him that has come from our community and across the nation has brought us the comfort and the strength needed to survive this tragedy," the family said in a statement Saturday."You all have truly touched our hearts."

Owen's suspected killer, 27-year-old parolee Trenton Trevon Lovell, remained in custody without bail Thursday and was facing multiple charges including capital murder. He is eligible for the the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted as charged, according to the Riverside County district attorney.