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Officer Ronald Wilbur Owens, II | Lakewood Police Department, Washington Lakewood Police Department, Washington

Officer

Ronald Wilbur Owens, II

Lakewood Police Department, Washington

End of Watch: Sunday, November 29, 2009

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 37

Tour: 12 years

Badge # 121

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 11/29/2009

Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber

Suspect: Shot and killed

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Officer Ronald Owens, Sergeant Mark Renninger, Officer Tina Griswold, and Officer Greg Richards were shot and killed in an ambush style attack while sitting inside a coffee shop in Parkland.

All four officers had just finished a call and went to the coffee shop to complete paperwork. Sergeant Renninger, Officer Owens and Officer Griswald were seated at a table, and Officer Richards was in line waiting to order coffee. The suspect entered the shop, walked directly over to the table where the three officers were sitting, drew a 9 mm handgun and shot Officer Griswald, killing her. The suspect then shot Sergeant Renninger, killing him.

After shooting the two officers, the suspect’s weapon jammed and he became involved in a physical fight with Officer Owens. During the struggle, the suspect drew a second weapon, a .38 caliber revolver and shot and killed Officer Owens. Officer Richards, hearing the shots, moved toward the suspect and became involved in physical fight with him. During the struggle, Officer Richards was able to shoot the suspect once in the torso, before the suspect was able to gain control of his weapon. The suspect then shot Officer Richards, killing him.

The suspect fled the location, prompting a two day manhunt. He was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer after the officer observed him near a stolen car. The officer attempted to take the suspect into custody, but the suspect refused to follow commands and attempted to flee, prompting the officer to fatally shoot him.

Officer Owens had served with the Lakewood Police Department for five years and had a total of twelve years of law enforcement service. He is survived by his daughter.

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Related Line of Duty Deaths

Sergeant Mark Joseph Renninger
Lakewood Police Department, Washington
End of Watch: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Cause: Gunfire

Officer Tina G. Griswold
Lakewood Police Department, Washington
End of Watch: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Cause: Gunfire

Officer Gregory James Richards
Lakewood Police Department, Washington
End of Watch: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Cause: Gunfire

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Most Recent Reflection

I'm working on the ribbons I do every year at this time to honor the 51 Oakland, California police officers that died in the line of duty. We put the 51 blue ribbons on a tree outside the Warehouse Bar and Grill on the anniversary of losing four of our officers in 2009. It reminded me of Lakewood's loss. I was honored to bring a Mermorial Quilt I made to honor you and Officers Richards, Griswold and Sergeant Renninger to the Lakewood PD. A small group from Oakland came including an Oakland PD officer. As I have family in the area I asked that they be a part of the presentation as well. The Lakewood PD gave us a tour and served us lunch and small tokens were exchanged. I hope that our being there the week following the first anniversary Oakland's loss helped your fellow officers cope with the upcoming first anniversary of Lakewood's loss. I'm not sure what brought me to Lakewood. The fact that we lost four and you lost four. That I was born in Tacoma and have ties to the area. That I was in the area a week after the tragedy to attend the funeral of a loved one. Somehow it all came together and it seemed the right thing to do. So as I sit at my computer and enter the names of Oakland's 51 I think of Lakewood's four. May God bless you all and may you rest in peace and know that you are not forgotten.

Anne Richmond
Oakland, CA
February 24, 2012

 

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