Police Officer Vernon J. Owings

Vernon J. Owings

Police Officer Vernon Owings was shot and killed when he and his partner stopped to help what they thought were two men having car trouble on Seaside Avenue on Terminal Island at 6:30 p.m.

When Officer Owings exited the vehicle and approached the men, one of the subjects produced a handgun and shot Officer Owings. The subject then shot Officer Owings' partner who had just exited the patrol car. He returned fire, wounding one of the suspects. Officer Owings was dead at the scene, with his gun still holstered.

Both suspects were apprehended. The gunman was the gang leader responsible for 70 holdups that netted the gang more than one hundred thousand dollars. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on November 2, 1960. His sentence was later commuted to life. The other suspect, a convicted felon, was convicted of robbery after turning state's evidence which enabled them to convict the remaining members of the gang.

Officer Owings was a United States Navy veteran and served with the Long Beach Police Department for over three years. He was survived by his daughter, son, and parents.