By Grâçia Ada Obi
A British photographer was allegedly stabbed to death by his 19-year-old son on a hiking trail in California, United State of America (USA).
Paul Lowe, a 60-year-old Professor at the University of the Arts London was found dead in the San Gabriel Mountains on Saturday 12 October. Police say the suspect was seen fleeing the scene in a car, which he then crashed just a few miles away.
Emir Lowe’s 19-year-old son was detained and arrested on suspicion of murder, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept records show. Lowe died from a stab wound to the neck, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Emergency services were called to an area near Stoddard Canyon Falls shortly before 3.30pm on Saturday “to an assault with a deadly weapon”. Lowe was found with stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene, police say.
It is understood Lowe – who split his time between London and Bosnian capital Sarajevo – was visiting Los Angeles on family matters. With a career spanning decades, Lowe has photographed major historical events including the fall of the Berlin Wall and Nelson Mandela’s release. His powerful images also documented the famine crises in Africa and the destruction of the Chechen city of Grozny.
Emotional tributes have been shared on social media. Friend and colleague Lara Jo Regan wrote: “I’m devastated to hear of the sudden death of my colleague Paul Lowe while he was visiting Los Angeles from the UK.
“We were due to grab a drink and catch up when I heard the awful news and I’m struggling to process the loss of this kind, exuberant soul I was so looking forward to seeing. We met at the World Press ceremony in 2001 where his haunting photo of the conflict in Yugoslavia was among those being honored, one of many of his great historical images that spanned major world events.”
King’s College London, where Mr Lowe was a visiting professor in war studies, said the award-winning photojournalist would be “deeply missed”. A statement posted “It is with deep sadness that we received the news of Professor Paul Lowe’s passing.
“Paul was a Visiting Professor in the Department of War Studies, a Professor of Photojournalism at the University of the Arts London, and an award-winning photojournalist with VII Academy. A friend, colleague and collaborator whose work had a huge impact in shining a spotlight on the Siege of Sarajevo and addressing its legacy, we were privileged to work with him on several projects related to art and reconciliation.
“His boundless energy, warmth, creativity, initiative and enthusiasm were contagious and uniquely inspiring. He will be deeply missed.”
Lowe’s 19-year-old son Emir was charged with one count of murder and was due to appear on Wednesday at the West Covina courthouse, the Los Angeles county district attorney’s office