Pope County Sheriff’s Office Identifies Dep Josh Owen As Officer Killed Saturday Night In Domestic Response Call

Deputy Josh Owen and his canine, Karma. (Photo: Pope County Sheriff’s Office)

CYRUS, MN (KDLM) – Police have confirmed that one of three law enforcement officers shot during a domestic call in west-central Minnesota Saturday evening has died along with the suspected shooter.

Josh Owen, a deputy for the Pope County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years, died following the shooting, which was reported at 7:30 p.m. on Stromen Street in Cyrus, a town of about 300 people 10 minutes east of Morris.

A Starbuck police officer and another deputy from Pope County suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and are no longer hospitalized.

“The subject, a man, was also struck and killed during the exchange of gunfire,” the Pope County Sheriff’s Office said.

According to a post from his father, Saturday was Owen’s 44th birthday.

“I’m numb at this moment. Josh came into this world on April 15, 1979, And on this day was taken from us. Rest easy my son,” he wrote.

Scott Mueller, deputy superintendent of investigations at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, spoke at a press conference and revealed some more details regarding the incident that resulted in Owen’s death, as well as that of the suspected shooter.

Mueller said Owens, another Pope County deputy, and a Starbuck police officer were sent to a domestic assault call at an apartment.

“They went into the home and after some initial investigation they informed a man at the home he was under arrest for domestic assault,” Mueller said. “The man drew a firearm and immediately began shooting at officers. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, the man and all three officers were struck. Lifesaving efforts were given to Owen and the male subject, with the male subject dying at the scene.”

Owen was taken to Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, where he later died.

The only other information released regarding the suspected shooter was a comment from Mueller that he had been living in Minnesota for less than a year.

The other two officers shot will recover from their injuries. With one treated at the scene and the other released from the hospital after treatment.

All officers were wearing body-worn cameras, which will be released at a later date.

The shooting came a week to the day that two officers were fatally shot by a suspect in Barron County, Wisconsin.

Owen was recently one of three officers honored by the Pope County Sheriff’s Office for lifesaving actions during a house fire in November.