Report Released on September 2014 Officer Involved Shooting

District Attorney Chris Hicks Announces New Public OIS Reporting Process to Increase Transparency, Releases Report on September 2014 Officer Involved Shooting Incident

February 4, 2016
Reno, Nevada

Today, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks released a public report detailing his findings on a September 3, 2014, officer involved shooting (OIS) marking a new process in Washoe County to increase transparency in the review of these types of cases.  Finding that the shooting was justified, DA Hicks posted a first of its kind 27 page public report to his county website. 

According to the report released today, James Luke Bowman, (DOB 9/13/71) was wanted by the United States Marshals pursuant to a federal felony probation violation stemming from a prior Felon in Possession of a Firearm conviction and by the Sparks Police Department for a July 2014 shooting incident. On September 3, 2014 the US Marshalls, with the assistance of the Washoe County All Threats All Crimes (ATAC) unit and the Sparks Police Department Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) planned an operation to apprehend Bowman after receiving information that the fugitive was in the Sun Valley area. In addition to the safety concerns generated by the federal warrant and the Sparks shooting, Bowman, a four-time felon, also had an extensive criminal history and was known to carry guns and deal in narcotics.  

During surveillance, Bowman was seen leaving a residence in Sun Valley in a red Jeep Cherokee driven by another male subject, later identified as Jeffery Howard (DOB 7/12/79).  When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled the scene at a high rate of speed.  Officers pursued the Jeep as it accelerated westbound on I-80.  When they lost sight of the vehicle the pursuit was terminated over safety concerns. 

With the assistance of bystanders who had witnessed the pursuit, law enforcement was able to locate the now abandoned Jeep in the area of East 8^th Street and Spokane Street.  Soon after, a Sheriff’s Office ATAC detective and a Sparks CSU detective located Bowman in the area.  The detectives confronted him in the driveway of 1117 East 8^th Street.  Both detectives, who were wearing tactical vests clearly identifying them as law enforcement officers, immediately began giving Bowman verbal commands to surrender. Bowman refused, responded with profanities, and was heard yelling “don’t make me do this”.  Bowman was also seen pacing and disobeying commands to stop moving and place his hands on his head.  He then began walking towards one of the detectives while removing a handgun from his waistband.  This resulted in both detectives firing upon Bowman. 

Once the scene was secure, emergency medical personnel were called to treat Bowman.  The loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson semiautomatic handgun Bowman possessed was recovered and discovered to be stolen.  He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.  A subsequent autopsy determined the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds.  Additional evidence recovered included a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin in Bowman’s backpack and pants’ pockets and an empty gun holster attached to his belt.  A toxicology test also revealed amphetamine and methamphetamine in Bowman’s blood.

Following the shooting, the Regional Officer Involved Shooting Protocol was initiated and the Reno Police Department led the multi-agency investigation.  They subsequently forwarded a comprehensive report to the District Attorney for review in December of 2015.  DA Hicks’ evaluation involved reviewing approximately 600 pages of reports and documents which included interviews of police and civilian witnesses, photographs, diagrams, video, recordings of radio transmissions, and examination of the scene of the shooting.  The released 28 page public report contains witness accounts, photographs, details of evidence collected, autopsy findings, the controlling legal authority, and DA Hicks’ analysis which resulted in his determination that the shooting was justified. 

In his report, DA Hicks wrote that the involved detectives “reasonably believed that they, and the citizens in the area, were in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm.  It was absolutely necessary for them to use deadly force.”  He concluded with “the actions of the involved detectives were justified.  Unless new circumstances come to light which contradict the factual foundation upon which this decision is made, this case is officially closed.” 

In commenting on the new public reporting process, Hicks stated “In these times, transparency is ever-important in OIS cases.  It is imperative that the public be able to review what circumstances caused an officer in the line of duty to shoot a subject and examine what dictates a DA’s review of the case.”  A copy of the report prepared in this case has been made available on the District Attorney’s Office website at https://www.washoecounty.us/da/newsroom/reports.php.