In the quiet morning hours of November 29, 2009, a tragedy unfolded in a coffee shop in Parkland, Washington, that claimed the life of 37-year-old White male, Ronald Wilbur Owens II, a dedicated police officer. Along with three of his colleagues from the Lakewood Police Department, Sergeant Mark Renninger and Officers Tina DeLong-Griswold and Greg Richards, Owens was catching up on paperwork before the start of their shift.
The four officers were seated in the Forza Coffee Company when a lone gunman, later identified as Maurice Clemmons, entered with the sole purpose of ambushing them.
Clemmons walked directly to the officers' table and, without a word, opened fire with a 9mm handgun, first killing Officer DeLong-Griswold and then Sergeant Renninger. When his initial weapon jammed, Clemmons engaged in a physical struggle with Officer Owens. During the altercation, Clemmons drew a second weapon, a. 38 caliber revolver, and fatally shot Officer Owens. Officer Richards, who had been at the counter, rushed to aid his fellow officers and became embroiled in a physical fight with the suspect. Richards managed to shoot Clemmons once in the torso before the assailant gained control of his weapon and killed him as well.
The brazen attack sparked a massive two-day manhunt for Clemmons. The search concluded when a Seattle police officer spotted the suspect with a stolen vehicle. When confronted, Clemmons attempted to flee and refused to follow commands, leading the officer to fatally shoot him. It was later discovered that an accomplice, Darcus Allen, had driven Clemmons away from the coffee shop following the initial shooting. Officer Owens had served with the Lakewood Police Department for five years and had a total of twelve years in law enforcement. He is survived by his daughter.
