Friday, February 19, 2010

Police identify man shot by officers


Police have released the name of the suspect officers killed when he held a knife to his mother's throat in the 10900 block of East 51st Street yesterday, Feb. 18. He has been identified as 18-year-old Blake Bowman of Kansas City, Mo.

Police were in the area of Bowman's home yesterday afternoon because Bowman was wanted for an armed robbery. When they found him outside his residence, he ran inside and forced his mother inside, also. Police believed he was armed, and Bowman took actions indicating he was barricading himself inside the home. Tactical teams surrounded the house at about 2 p.m. After police attempted to negotiate with him, Bowman eventually exited through the back door, acting aggressively and holding his mother in front of him and holding a knife to her throat. Officers repeatedly told him to drop his weapon. When he did not, a tactical officer shot and fatally wounded Bowman to protect the woman's life.

Detectives are investigating the incident, and the police officer involved in the shooting has been placed on routine administrative leave during the investigation.
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