Fountain valley carjacker who seriously injured a victim gets life in prison

On Saturday, June 14, 2014, at 8:55 p.m., Fountain Valley Police Officers were dispatched to the area of 11085 Warner Avenue (Stater Bros) in the City of Fountain Valley, County of Orange, regarding a possible stabbing.

Prior to FVPD Officers’ arrival on scene, the suspect fled. FVPD located the 50-year-old victim who was suffering from four stab wounds to his heart, colon and lower torso. The 17-year-old suspect, Steven Matthew Lowry (now 23), a resident of Fountain Valley, was located nearby and arrested without incident. FVPD Officers and FVPD Detectives investigated the incident and learned Lowry had approached the victim and demanded his car keys in an apparent attempted carjacking. The victim refused to hand over his keys, and Lowry used a knife to stab the victim four times before fleeing.

After the arrest, Lowry remained in custody. The jury trial began on January 28, 2019, and concluded on February 5, 2019. On February 6, 2019, the jury found Lowry guilty on all counts: PC 664(a)-PC 187(a) – attempted murder, PC 664(a)-PC 215(a)-attempted carjacking, two counts of PC 12022(b)(1) – use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony, and two counts of PC 12022.7(a) – inflicting great bodily injury to another in the commission of a felony. On July 22, 2020, Lowry was sentenced to life in state prison. Incident #14-2231.

The victim is still suffering from life-altering injuries sustained as a result of this senseless act of violence.

The convict’s father posted this response to the above Fountain Valley Police Department press release, on Facebook:

Kirk Lowry This is my son. Iet me first state that I pray for the Victim every night and wish this would never have happened.

The System worked. I totally disagree with people saying that.

My Son stood up many times for kids being bullied at school. Saved a lady that was being attacked at a bus stop.

He got involved in drugs at a young age. I tried to get him help he knew he could sign himself out of rehab if I put him in and sure he would have. He was in trouble with the law many times and never obeyed what the courts ordered him to do. They always threatened to throw him in juvenile hall if he did not do what they said yet never did.

This all started when he was 13 until he finally he got put on intense probation. I finally had hope that he would get some consequences his probation officer Tamrinn Walker did not do her job. He was not doing his court ordered drug program, community service, was not going to his probation school, Cut off a GPS ankle monitor, testing positive for meth and Marijuana. The only thing he was doing right was going to probation meetings. I went with him all most every time. I begged for her to violate him she would not. She did go to Juvenile hall when he got arrested for this and smiled and said I knew you were going to do something like this. So no the system failed my Son and the Victim. The Victim should sue Orange county for letting this happen.

I was a single Dad working long hours and trying to be a good parent. I failed my son and the system failed him. Our school system fails our kids by suspending them there should only be in school suspension.

Now all of you can judge away. We are all sinners.

I want to add 90 percent of the Police officers I dealt with over the years were great. Gave good advice and a couple really took the time to try to get through to my son.

This situation has changed the Victims life, my son’s life and my life.