Behind the Badge
News release from the OCSD:
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy wounded Sunday in his attempt to rescue concertgoers from gunfire at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas is home and recovering.
Deputy Joe Owen, a nearly six-year veteran of the department assigned to Yorba Linda, was released from the hospital late Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 3, and escorted home by Orange County Sheriff’s Department personnel.
When gunfire erupted sending the massive crowd panicking to escape, Owen first ushered his wife and another woman to refuge underneath the stage. Putting his own safety aside, Owen went back into the line of fire to continue to help more victims and was shot twice.
His injuries were serious, but not life-threatening.
There were more than 40 OCSD personnel and family members of personnel in attendance at the festival. Several personnel rendered aid to victims at the scene and also assisted local authorities in their response.
Two spouses of department personnel also were injured by gunfire during the attack. They sustained non-life threatening injuries — one suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle and the other to the hand — and are home in Orange County recovering.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific tragedy. The members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department family injured in the attack have asked for privacy as they continue to heal and recover.
A photo of Deputy Owen will not be released at this time.
