Investigators say the victim shared a home with his 21-year-old cousin and 86-year-old grandmother in the 2400 block of West Elkhart Street. His grandmother, Gertrude Rowland, was sleeping in the home when she heard gunshots at about 10:45 p.m.
When she ran downstairs, she found 37-year-old Lonnie Rowland lying in the living room, having been shot multiple times with a 40-caliber handgun.
Gertrude said a man in a hooded sweatshirt was straddling the victim when she came upon the scene. The hooded gunman then forced her into a closet, ransacked the home, then escaped.
Lonnie was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where he died.
Rowland, the father of two, worked at Cambria Community Center, a lower security facility at 17th and Cambria streets. He was preparing to leave for his shift, which began at 11:00 p.m., when the shooting occurred.
Rowland is an 11-year veteran of the corrections department. He leaves behind a 6-year-old boy and a 10-month-old daughter.
The Corrections Department chaplain Phyllis Taylor was with the family this morning. She told Action News, "[Lonnie] was the correctional officer's correctional officer because he was fair, firm, consistent, dignified."
Police tell Action News their suspect is a member of Rowland's family and has a long criminal history.
