Tim Owens Burial to be in Rolla; Candlelight Vigil Set for Friday

Tim Owens' burial will be in Rolla, Missouri, not in Effingham as was first believed.

Owens, one of three people killed in a shooting rampage by Specialist Ivan Lopez at Ft. Hood, Texas, spent his childhood in Effingham, but attended junior high and high school in Rolla and his wife lives there.  

Owens' mother, Mary Muntean, had told us that her son's funeral would be in Effingham, but it was later learned that Tim's wishes were to be buried in Rolla beside his brother, who is already buried there.  We'll learn when the services in Rolla will be held once a memorial service for all of those killed is held Wednesday at Ft. Hood.

Meanwhile, Belinda Rueter, a friend of Tim and his first wife, said a candlelight vigil will be held Friday night at 7:00 on the lawn of the old Courthouse Museum in downtown Effingham. Rueter said anyone who wants to speak will be given the opportunity.

Rueter said the Patriot Guard Riders have already pledged to provide an escort for Sgt. Owens from Texas to Rolla.

(TIM OWENS)

Meanwhile, details regarding the shooting continue to emerge.  Army officials Monday said an argument over a request for leave apparently led to Lopez's rampage.  Word is that within minutes of the altercation, Lopez displayed a 45-caliber handgun and fired multiple rounds, killing one soldier and injuring 10 others.

Each of the three killed by Lopez, including Sgt. Owens, was killed in a different building.  In addition to the three people killed, 16 others were wounded.  In one bit of good news, 11 of those 16 wounded in the shootings are already back on duty.