Woman springs into action when suspect in killing of deputy jumps into her backyard

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People mourn the death of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Steve Owen during a candlelight vigil in Lancaster on Saturday.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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People mourn the death of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Steve Owen during a candlelight vigil in Lancaster Saturday.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Kailey Tenuta, 10, wipes her eyes as community members mourn the death of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Steve Owen during a candlelight vigil in Lancaster Saturday.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Lancaster resident Louie Garcia, 22, pays his respects in front of a memorial for L.A. County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen, located in front of the entrance to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in Lancaster.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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L.A. County firefighters from Acton salute from the Sierra Highway Soledad overpass as the procession escorting the body of Sgt. Steve Owen passes.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Kathleen Simons holds a flag on the Sierra Highway Soledad overpass in Acton as the procession escorting the body of Sgt. Steve Owen returns to Lancaster.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Kathleen Simons holds a flag as she joins others on the Sierra Highway Soledad overpass in Acton to pay respect to the procession escorting the body of Sgt. Steve Owen back to Lancaster.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Sheriff’s vehicles escort the hearse on the 14 Freeway as it carries the body of Sgt. Steve Owen back to Lancaster from the L.A. coroner’s office.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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An emotional L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell passes the memorial for Sgt. Steve Owen during a news conference at the Lancaster sheriff’s station.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles TImes)

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Standing next to a portrait of Sgt. Steve Owen, an emotional Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell addresses a press conference at the Lancaster Sheriff’s station Thursday.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Mia Ayala, 6, kneels to pray with her father Michael and grandmother Candy Ayala at a growing memorial at the Lancaster Sheriff’s station.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Seven-year-old Eric Robb and his sister, Payton, 4, deliver flowers to L.A. County Deputy Ybarra at the Lancaster Sheriffs HQ Thursday morning.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Jay Emanuel, left, a former law enforcement officer, and Alberto Gonzalez prepare a candle at a growing memorial at the Lancaster Sheriffs station.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Gerard Rivers, with tears streaming down his face, remembers Sgt. Steve Owen who was his High School football coach.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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LA County Sheriff Deputy Villalobos touches a hand written note “You are my HERO” at a growing memorial at the Lancaster Sheriffs HQ Thursday morning.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Sheriff Jim McDonnell arrives at Lancaster Sheriff’s station by helicopter Thursday afternoon to mert with the Sgt Steve Owen’s family and with Sheriffs deputies.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Kenny Parnell brought a candle and red heart balloon as he reflects at a growing memorial for Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen at the Lancaster Sheriffs HQ Thursday morning.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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-year-old Levi Contreras with his father, Loren, leaves his hand written note “You are my HERO” at a growing memorial for L.A.County sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen, who died after he was shot while responding to a call about a residential burglary in Lancaster.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Bishop Vaughn gets emotional as he talks about the deputy turning his life around at a growing memorial at the Lancaster Sheriffs Dept. for Sgt. Steve Owen, who died Wednesday after he was shot while responding to a call about a residential burglary.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A hearse in a convoy of Sheriff’s patrol cars departs the Lancaster station enroute with family members to the Los Angeles County morgue.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Tony Miano, a retired LA County Sheriff’s deputy, shakes hands with Jenny Acosta. who stopped to thank him for holding his sign at the corner at a growing memorial at the Lancaster Sheriffs HQ Thursday morning.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Residents watch as a coroner’s van takes the body of Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen from the Antelope Valley Medical Center to the county morgue.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Antelope Valley residents gather at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station to mourn the death of Sgt. Steve Owen, who was fatally shot by a robbery suspect on Wednesday.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Law enforcement and Fire Department personnel transport the shooting suspect in Lancaster. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Sheriff’s deputies and Antelope Valley residents gather at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station to mourn the death of Sgt. Steve Owen, who was fatally shot by a robbery suspect on Wednesday.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A child adds a candle to a memorial at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station for Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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L.A. County sheriff’s deputies stand near the fatal shooting scene in Lancaster on Wednesday afternoon. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Sgt. Steve Owen, shown in April 2015, was fatally wounded after responding to call of a residential burglary in Lancaster, authorities said.

(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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L.A. Sheriff’s Department SWAT team members stand down after the arrest of a suspect in the fatal shooting of Sgt. Steve Owen, a 29-year veteran of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Sheriff’s deputies and medical personnel hug at the Antelope Valley Medical Center after the fatal shooting of Sgt. Steve Owen, a 29-year veteran of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Sheriff’s deputies embrace in the parking lot of the Antelope Valley Medical Center after the fatal shooting of Sgt. Steve Owen, a 29-year veteran of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Members of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team ride an armored vehicle down the street near the scene of a fatal shooting.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

By Kate Mather

Oct. 5, 2016 4:50 PM PT

Jamie Forsher, 35, was standing in the sunroom of her parents’ Lancaster home Wednesday afternoon when she saw a man jump over a fence into their backyard. Forsher knew about the manhunt — deputies had searched the house earlier in the day, and her family was watching the news unfold on television in another room.

The man ran toward the back door. So did Forsher.

“I slammed it and locked it and told everybody to get on the ground,” she said. “God forbid he starts shooting and tries to get in here.”

Forsher said deputies had swarmed the neighborhood and “got him within a matter of seconds.” Television footage showed the man sprawled next to the family’s backyard pool as he surrendered.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen was killed after he was shot during a gun battle while responding to call of a residential burglary nearby. A dramatic manhunt ended with the arrest of the suspect.

Owen, a 29-year department veteran, was awarded a Medal of Valor in 2014, the department’s highest honor. His wife is a member of the department’s Arson Explosive Unit.

My heart really goes out to the officer who was shot and his family.

— Jamie Forsher, who saw a man jump into her backyard

“My heart really goes out to the officer who was shot and his family,” Forsher said. “I’m just happy no one else was hurt.”

Gunshots were reported about 12:30 p.m. in the 3200 block of West Avenue J-7, triggering a massive search for the shooter, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Shortly after 2 p.m., the suspected gunman, who is from the Antelope Valley and is on active parole, later forced his way into a home and holed himself up with two hostages, Katz said. When deputies entered the house, the man fled through the backyard, put his arms up and was taken into custody. A weapon was recovered. Authorities did not describe the weapon.

During the gun battle, the man was struck in the upper torso by gunfire, Katz said.

The wounded sergeant was driven in a sheriff’s cruiser to Antelope Valley Hospital in grave condition. Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, who was at the hospital, said the lawman was shot in the face.

[email protected]

@katemather

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