Charleston County Police Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Saturday, May 11, 1968
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 11, 1968
Weapon Used: Handgun; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Patrolman James Owens was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner he had just arrested.
He had responded to an accident and had transported an injured woman and her boyfriend to the hospital. While at the hospital the boyfriend became disorderly and Patrolman Owens arrested him. As he took the man to jail the man produced a .22 caliber handgun and shot Patrolman Owens in the neck four times.
The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death September 18th, 1968. His sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison in May of 2010.