Las Vegas Shooting: Injured Orange County Deputy Returns Home

YORBA LINDA, CA — In the aftermath of the Las Vegas mass shooting outside of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the strip, belongings remained scattered over the festival grounds. Lawn chairs are empty, many toppled or trampled; festival banners of country music's favorite sons remain posted while officials piece together the events that led to the massacre that killed 59 and injured more than 500 on Sunday.

More than 40 Orange County Sheriff's Department personnel attended the three- day-long Route 91 Harvest Festival when the mass shooting incident occurred. As first repsonders, many acted as they had been trained to do: to get the innocent to safety with little to no thought of their own protection.

Deputy Joe Owen, an almost six-year veteran of the OCSD, was shot while attempting to rescue concertgoers during the gunfire. He has returned home and is recovering, according to OCSD Public Affairs officer Jamie Blashaw.

The Victims Of The Las Vegas Shooting

Owen wants no fanfare from his actions, just for the ability to recover in privacy at his home.

Owen is currently assigned to Yorba Linda Station. He was released from the hospital late Tuesday afternoon and escorted home by Orange County Sheriff’s Department personnel, according to Blashaw.

"When gunfire erupted sending the massive crowd panicking to escape, Owen first ushered his wife and another woman to refuge underneath the stage," Blashaw said. Owen's wife was uninjured in the attack.

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," Blashaw said. "Several personnel rendered aid to victims at the scene and also assisted local authorities in their response."

Two wives of department personnel also were injured by gunfire during the attack. Both women sustained non-life threatening injuries — one suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle, and the other to the hand. All are home in Orange County recovering.

Though many officers have returned to work, for the camaraderie of others or just for a sense of normalcy, the incident remains fresh in their minds and likely will for long after.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific tragedy," Blashaw said. "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."

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