L.A. Sgt's Killer Identified: The parolee accused of killing a Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant earlier this week has been identified as a man with a long criminal history who is known for his hot temper. Veronica Rocha, James Queally and Brittany Mejia of the L.A. Times report that Trenton Trevon Lovell, 27, fatally shot Sgt. Steve Owen, 53, with a stolen handgun on Wednesday afternoon after Owen responded to a reported residential burglary. Lovell first shot and wounded Owen, a 29-year decorated veteran, then stood over him and pumped four more bullets into his body, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell. Lovell was apprehended after attempting to steal Owen's patrol car, reversing it into another patrol car and striking and injuring another deputy, exchanging gunfire with that deputy and then running into a home occupied by two teenagers. Lovell's criminal history dates back to when he was a juvenile selling marijuana. He has since racked up 11 arrests, two for which he served time in state prison. His record includes resisting arrest, armed robbery and, most recently, driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury to another person, for which he was ordered to complete a program.
Officer Feared Using Gun While Being Beaten: A Chicago police officer is in the hospital after being severely beaten by a man that she was afraid to shoot because she was fearful of facing public scrutiny for defending her life. ABC7 reports that the officer was one of three that were hospitalized after responding to a car crash on Wednesday morning, where they encountered a man they described as violent and under the influence of drugs. Although the officer feared for her life while the suspect was beating her, she was hesitant to use lethal force "because she didn't want her family or the department to have to go through the scrutiny the next day on the national news," said Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson.
SCOUTS Won't Hear AZ Death Penalty Case: U.S. Supreme Court justices' refusal on Monday to hear Arizona's appeal of a lower court ruling that overturned a convicted murderer's death sentence could affect up to 25 other death row inmates, allowing them to challenge their sentences. Astrid Galvan of the AP reports that justices let stand last December's ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of James McKinney. The court ruled that Arizona unconstitutionally excluded evidence about McKinney's troubled, abusive childhood might have led the judge to grant leniency and avoid a death sentence. At issue in the case is Arizona's casual nexus rule, which requires mitigating evidence like mental illness or PTSD to be directly tied to the crime in order to be relevant in sentencing. McKinney was sentenced to death after being convicted of murder in two separate killings he committed during burglaries, one in February 1991 and the other a month later. His sentencing case will go back to state court within 90 to 120 days. For now, his conviction stands.
Officer Feared Using Gun While Being Beaten: A Chicago police officer is in the hospital after being severely beaten by a man that she was afraid to shoot because she was fearful of facing public scrutiny for defending her life. ABC7 reports that the officer was one of three that were hospitalized after responding to a car crash on Wednesday morning, where they encountered a man they described as violent and under the influence of drugs. Although the officer feared for her life while the suspect was beating her, she was hesitant to use lethal force "because she didn't want her family or the department to have to go through the scrutiny the next day on the national news," said Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson.
SCOUTS Won't Hear AZ Death Penalty Case: U.S. Supreme Court justices' refusal on Monday to hear Arizona's appeal of a lower court ruling that overturned a convicted murderer's death sentence could affect up to 25 other death row inmates, allowing them to challenge their sentences. Astrid Galvan of the AP reports that justices let stand last December's ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of James McKinney. The court ruled that Arizona unconstitutionally excluded evidence about McKinney's troubled, abusive childhood might have led the judge to grant leniency and avoid a death sentence. At issue in the case is Arizona's casual nexus rule, which requires mitigating evidence like mental illness or PTSD to be directly tied to the crime in order to be relevant in sentencing. McKinney was sentenced to death after being convicted of murder in two separate killings he committed during burglaries, one in February 1991 and the other a month later. His sentencing case will go back to state court within 90 to 120 days. For now, his conviction stands.
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