Photojournalist Paul Lowe fatally stabbed in California hiking incident, son arrested

Renowned British photojournalist Paul Lowe was fatally stabbed while hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California. His 19-year-old son was charged with murder.

Lowe was a photographer and war journalist who made a career in the 1980s and 1990s by documenting pivotal global events, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Russian invasion of Grozny in Chechnya, the war in the former Yugoslavia and Nelson Mandela’s dismissal from the Jail .

The 60-year-old news veteran suffered severe trauma to his upper body and was pronounced dead Saturday near Stoddard Canyon Falls, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said.

The coroner confirmed he died from a stab wound to the neck.

According to police, first responders were called to the scene of the accident by a passerby. Lowe’s son was seen driving away, but a few miles away he crashed his vehicle.

Evidence and witness statements led to his arrest.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against Emir Abadzic Lowe in connection with his father’s death.

After years of conflict photography, Lowe became Professor of Conflict, Peace and the Image at the London College of Communication at the University of the Arts London.

“Paul’s work throughout his career has had a groundbreaking impact on the representation of war and conflict and, most recently, on the complex cultural negotiations involved in peace and reconciliation work,” the university said in a statement.

“Paul leaves an incredible legacy as an award-winning photographer, author, critic and, not least, a truly compassionate educator.”

According to his biography, Lowe has published his work in many major publications, including Time, Newsweek, Life, The Observer and The Independent.

Lowe’s war reporting books were a huge success, particularly his Reporting the Siege of Sarajevo, which documented the longest siege in modern European history, and a related book called Bosnians. He has also authored several technical works on photojournalism and the art of photography.

Because he experienced the war up close for extended periods of time, Lowe focused his research on the ethical issues of war photography.

“You know, 10,000 people died in the siege of Sarajevo, but how do you translate that into an experience that the audience can relate to, for example, in a more personal, empathetic way,” he said in an introductory video for the London event YouTube page of the College of Communication.

“What really interested me as a photographer was this sense of what happens to ordinary people in these extraordinary situations. And conflicts are obviously some of the most extraordinary situations.”

Honors given

Following the news of Lowe’s death, tributes poured in from colleagues and colleagues. Santiago Lyon, a former vice president and cameraman at The Associated Press who worked with Lowe during the siege of Sarajevo, praised his courage and commitment.

“Paul was a very talented, courageous and dedicated photojournalist who repeatedly put himself in danger to show the world the reality of war zones and humanitarian crises around the world,” Lyon said.

“He then became an accomplished and respected educator dedicated to preparing future generations of photojournalists. His untimely death has had a profound impact on the photojournalism community and we are in shock.”

Lowe also taught at the VII Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to training journalists from underrepresented communities. The foundation released a statement of mourning over his death, describing him as a “courageous and beloved comrade and a deeply devoted father and husband.”

“The loss is shocking and overwhelming, and our condolences go out to his wife and family,” the foundation said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.