LA County Sheriff McDonnell: Slain Sergeant Was Shot ‘Execution-Style'
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell called the shooting death of a veteran sergeant in Lancaster a “calculated execution.” Sgt. Steve Owen was answering a burglary-in-progress call on Wednesday when he was gunned down Wednesday. At a news conference on Thursday, McDonnell said 27-year-old Trenton Lovell shot Owen, then stood over his body and fired four more times. He says the man then searched Owen's body, looking for the sergeant's gun in order to shoot the first deputy who responded to the gunfire.
CBS 2

Procession Accompanies Body of Slain Sgt. Steve Owen, Called Role Model by Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said he met Thursday with the family of slain Lancaster Station Sgt. Steve Owen, whom he called a role model and a hero. Owen, 53, was shot in the 3200 block of West Avenue J-7 after responding to a residential burglary call just after noon Wednesday. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he died a short time later.
KTLA 5

St. Louis County police officer killed in South County; teen faces murder charge
A St. Louis County police officer was fatally shot Thursday after responding to a report of a disturbance, and prosecutors charged an 18-year-old man in the killing. Officer Blake Snyder, 33, was shot point-blank after encountering the man accused of causing the disturbance in a normally quiet, middle-class suburban neighborhood in Green Park, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Indianapolis police district office hit with gunfire, suspect at large
The Indianapolis police chief says gunfire that struck one of the department's district offices may have been in response to a recent crackdown on drugs. Indianapolis Police Chief Troy Riggs said Wednesday that "individuals are getting desperate." Northwest District Commander Michael Jefferson says "a few dozen shots" were fired at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's district headquarters about 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Associated Press

Shooting Deaths of Law Enforcement Officers Increase 50 Percent
Gunfire deaths of law enforcement personnel in the line of duty have increased 50 percent this year, according to nationwide statistics compiled on the Officer Down Memorial Page. The 42nd death occurred Wednesday in Lancaster, where Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Steve Owen was fatally shot while responding to a burglary call. The increase in gunfire deaths stands in stark contrast to the trend for deaths due to all causes, which has actually decreased by three percent, according to the ODMP site.
NBC 4

'I thought for a second he was going to shoot me': Victim recalls robbery with gunman in deputy killing
A former USC community safety officer who was robbed at gunpoint years earlier by a man who authorities say shot and killed a Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant this week said in an interview that he feels lucky to be alive. Elliott Coney, 34, learned that his former assailant had been named as the sergeant's killer in a voicemail message left by a Times reporter asking about the Dec. 7, 2008, robbery.
Los Angeles Times

Boy, 16, Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting Had 'Desire To End His Own Life,' LAPD Chief Says
A 16-year-old boy was apparently intent on committing suicide when he pointed what turned out to be replica handgun at police officers and was fatally shot, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said Thursday. Daniel Enrique Perez's name was released by Los Angeles County coroner's officials in the hours before Beck spoke at a news conference. The teen died at a hospital after the Sunday afternoon shooting.
ABC 7

SWAT responds to armed man barricaded in North Hollywood area
Police on Thursday surrounded a residence in the North Hollywood area where a man with a gun was barricaded. The standoff in the 11300 block of Keswick Street began about 9:30 a.m., said Los Angeles police Officer Tony Im. No injuries were reported, and no hostages were being held, he said.
Fox 11

Man suspected of punching woman in Venice in custody
A 44-year-old man who allegedly punched a woman outside a Venice store in an attack caught on video was in custody Thursday. Michael Fino turned himself in on Tuesday, after third party video of the Sept. 25 attack was circulated, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Fino was booked on suspicion of felony battery, according to Officer Tony Im of the LAPD's Media Relations Section.
City News Service

Woman Weeps In Testimony Against NBA Star Derrick Rose
The ex-girlfriend accusing NBA star Derrick Rose and his friends of rape spent Thursday battling her emotions as she tried to piece together a night she remembers only in "flashes." Her vague recall and testimony that contradicted what she told lawyers during her deposition left her vulnerable to combative cross-examination by Rose's lawyer as the Knicks player looked on with little reaction.
Associated Press

Whittier Couple Caught At Border With Toddler's Body To Be Arraigned In LA
A Whittier couple who has been charged in connection with the discovery of a 2-year-old girl's body in a duffel bag as they were crossing the border into Mexico will be arraigned Friday on felony charges including torture and murder. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Mercy Mary Becerra, 43, and Johnny Lewis Hartley, 39, were charged last week with one felony count each of murder, torture and assault on a child causing death involving the toddler.
KCAL 9

CEO of Website Called ‘World's Top Online Brothel' Arrested on Pimping Charges in Crackdown by CA Atty. Gen.
The chief executive of the classified ad website Backpage.com was arrested Thursday on pimping charges, part of a broad crackdown led by state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, who criticized the website for profiting from the sex trafficking of adults and children. Carl Ferrer was taken into custody in Houston after arriving on a flight from Amsterdam, according to a statement from Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton, whose office joined in the criminal inquiry.
KTLA 5

Are California roadways ready if recreational marijuana is legalized?
Next month, Californians will vote on Prop 64 — the statewide measure to legalize recreational marijuana. Polls show the initiative has the support of some 60 percent of expected voters. But a number of traffic safety groups have raised concerns about the impact of legalizing marijuana, including the Automobile Club of Southern California. It held a summit Wednesday to weigh the impacts and challenges if Prop 64 passes.
KPCC 89.3

NYPD's new holsters make it harder for people to snatch cop's gun
The NYPD is replacing reject holsters like the one a cop was wearing when panhandler allegedly snatched his gun and shot a Bronx store clerk to death in August. The new holsters will have an automatic locking system, making it more difficult for a suspect to snatch an officer's gun, said Police Commissioner James O'Neill. O'Neill said the department decided to make the change after the death of deli worker Wali Camara.
New York Daily News