Joe Owens

"(recites the pledge of allegiance) Remember that pledge because tonight you will be tested. You'll be tried in every imaginable way.But you will triumph if you show your allegiance and Purge.It's going to be hell. But it's also a gift.12 hours of freedom.That's just over 43,000 seconds to change your life forever.But look I wouldn't lie to you.What I'm talking about it's hard.Not everyone's up for it.Participation is dangerous.It's risky.But that risk gives way to unyielding reward.So prepare, plan, pray if you have to.Do whatever you need to do.Just make sure your ready for a world of possibility.Life is fleeting Blink and it's gone.But when you embrace the Purge,when you commit to the healing power of its violence, when you rise up, ready to submit to its will, anything can happen."

- Joe's philosophy of the Purge

Joe "Joey" Owens is one of the main antagonists of the first season of The Purge he is a former factory worker who, after all the bad things that happened to him in his life, rounds up everyone who ever wronged him and plots to execute them in mock court trials.

Personality
Joe first appears to be a heroic man who just wants to cause justice on Purge night, it isn't until after he captures Penelope Guerrero that his true personality comes out: a vengeful killer who wants to serve his own twisted form of justice to the people who wronged him and that he's not one to simply let bygones be bygones and to let things go.

Biography
Joe was often bullied in high school by a bully named Charlie who would make him do his homework for him by punching him and wouldn't let him go to the restroom to the point where he would piss himself and Charlie would lead the other students in making fun of him (Ironically Charlie had his own home problems and became a homeless person). It got so bad that on the last day of school Joe snuck outside to urinate and got caught and written up, and later that day got yelled at by his father for letting Charlie bully him all year instead of fighting back.As an adult he worked a good paying job as a factory worker to support him and his sick father but lost his job when the factory he worked at closed down but eventually got a new job installing purge security systems.Not long after he went on a date with Jane Barbour but due to some comments she considered offensive, she left him which caused him to develop a hatred for her. He later develops a shocking hatred for Penelope when hes marking the Betancourts for not paying him for installing their security system while Rick claims that he did he holds the door for Penelope but shes too busy talking on the phone to thank him for his kindness which causes him to get angry and yell at her but she still doesn't hear him and he marks her.He goes through with capturing and putting on trial everyone who wronged him,killing Charlie by stabbing him in the chest,Eileen is killed when she runs for the exit only to trip rigged shotguns and get gunned down as soon as she opens the door, then he strangles Jane until she dies,Then comes the Betancourt's turn where Rick once again begs him to let his pregnant wife go but Joe once again refuses.And reveals that Rick cheated him and Jenna blames him for their current predicament causing Joe to chuckle.Rick confesses that he really did cheat Joe but Rick convinces Joe to spare Jenna on one condition that she kills Rick instead of him.But when she goes to do it Joe reveals he didn't trust her with a loaded gun thus the gun he gave her was empty.Penelope creates a distraction so the others can escape in which Penelope stabs Joe in the eye with a screw and they run as he shoots after them and eventually pulls the screw out of his eye.As everyone attempts to escape Paige is killed when she sets of a bomb trap.Joe uses a tracking device to hunt the others around the building.Rick having taken a a gun wound bleeds out and dies.Joe finds Penelope and prepares to kill her and she thanks him for holding the door causing him to laugh and tells her it's too late.Miguel enters the pool room and shoots Joe it appears as though he is dead but Joe gets back up and engages Miguel and Penelope in a fierce brawl but the purge ends before he has the chance to kill them,foiling his plans and enraging him.

Quotes
"(Tape:Will you spend this holiday locked in a cage afraid of your true potential?)No.(Tape:And can you stand another year of life with this poison inside of you?)NO!(Tape:I will participate)I WILL PARTICIPATE!(Tape:I will purge) I. Will. Purge!"

- Joe listening to motivational tapes before putting his victims on trial

"I will exercise mercy if your confession is compelling. But if not, I will purge and I will be reborn."

- Joe before beginning his mock trials on the people he has captured