A teenager has been charged with the murder of his father, renowned British photojournalist Paul Lowe, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during a stabbing incident while hiking in California’s San Gabriel Mountains.
Teen Son Arrested in Death of Celebrated Photographer Paul Lowe
The 60-year-old Lowe, celebrated for capturing significant historical moments, including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the release of Nelson Mandela, was discovered with severe trauma to his upper torso near Stoddard Canyon Falls on Saturday. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, he was pronounced dead at the scene, with the county medical examiner later confirming that a stab wound to the neck was the cause of death.
Witnesses reported observing a man, later identified as Lowe’s son, Emir Abadzic Lowe, fleeing the area in a vehicle. The 19-year-old was involved in a single-vehicle crash a short distance from the scene of the incident and was subsequently arrested when law enforcement connected evidence gathered from the scene with witness statements.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office formally charged Emir with one count of murder related to his father’s death. The reasons behind the incident are still not fully understood. The district attorney’s office has not yet provided information on when Emir Lowe will be scheduled for his court appearance or whether he has secured legal counsel.
Who was Paul Lowe? Paul Lowe Wikipedia
Paul Lowe, a distinguished professor at the University of the Arts London, was renowned for his expertise in conflict photojournalism, particularly his impactful work in war-torn areas like Bosnia during the Sarajevo siege. His 2005 book, Bosnians, chronicles over a decade of conflict and its enduring effects on the region.
In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, Lowe reflected on capturing the dire conditions in Sarajevo, describing how children often ventured into dangerous streets, risking their lives amidst sniper fire. “People would take immense risks for small joys,” he recounted. “It was challenging for the children, who understandably wanted to escape the confines of their homes. During moments of relative calm, they could play outside—I remember photographing kids swimming in the river during a ceasefire. But that river, much like the rest of the city, was in clear sight of Serbian snipers. I witnessed a heartbreaking incident one winter when a group of children was killed by shelling while sledding just outside their home.”
Read: Who is Paul Lowe’s Wife Amra Abadzic-Lowe?
Tributes
The photojournalism community is now in mourning, paying tribute to Lowe’s legacy. Santiago Lyon, a former vice president and director of photography at the Associated Press who collaborated with Lowe during the siege in the early 1990s, described him as “a brave and dedicated photojournalist” who “revealed the harsh realities of war and humanitarian crises to the world.” He added, “Later, he became a highly regarded educator, devoted to training the next generation of photojournalists. His unexpected passing has left a profound impact on the photojournalism community, and we are all in disbelief.”
In addition to his impactful work in the field, Lowe devoted a significant portion of his later career to nurturing the next generation of photojournalists. He collaborated with The VII Foundation, an organization focused on training journalists from underrepresented communities.
We are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden death of Paul Lowe, Professor of Conflict, Peace and the Image at London College of Communication, UAL. Paul has been a deeply valued colleague for over two decades, and a leading figure in the photography community at LCC and UAL. pic.twitter.com/fQKIyBI2MN
— LCC (@LCCLondon) October 16, 2024
“Paul was a brave and cherished colleague, as well as a profoundly committed father and husband. His loss is both shocking and heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with his wife and family during this difficult time,” the foundation stated in an online tribute.
British-Bosnian photographer Paul Lowe, who documented the siege of Sarajevo, has tragically died. Last year Paul & his wife Amra spoke at a war reporting conference of @KASmediaSEE & they became good friends of ours. We are deeply saddened, our condolences to Amra & her family pic.twitter.com/xracP4exCc
— KAS Media SEE (@KASmediaSEE) October 15, 2024
