Charges will not be pursued in regard to shooting
April 26, 2024 at 1:21 p.m.
March 30 around midnight, Union County Deputy Jeff Shoemaker was dispatched to a residence on Liberty Pike.
In the Union County Prosecutor AJ Bryson’s charging decision and memorandum, it stated the initial caller, Oscar Gentry IV, advised dispatch that he was having an argument and did not feel safe at the residence. Upon Shoemaker’s arrival, he encountered Bradley Bowling and Bowling’s 17-year-old sister. Bowling stated his sister and Gentry had an argument, and Gentry was last seen walking southbound with a handgun on Liberty Pike. Bowling advised Shoemaker he was armed with a Kimber Micro 9mm. When Shoemaker spoke to Bowling’s sister, he reported she was intoxicated and stated the incident started when Gentry was screaming in her face. Shoemaker then searched for Gentry but did not locate him.
Then, around 1:40 a.m., law enforcement was again dispatched to US 27 and Liberty Pike regarding an altercation between Gentry and Bowling. While en route, shots were fired. Officer Trevor Young was the first on the scene and found Bowling lying face down in the roadway and began life-saving measures on Bowling. Young said he found Bowling’s gun under Bowling’s body. It further stated in the charging decision that Young tossed the weapon to a gravel driveway east of Bowling’s body. Shoemaker stated he observed what he believed to be a large set of channel locks lying no more than two feet away from the body. While Young administered first aid, Shoemaker collected the gun that had been tossed by Young. He noted the hammer was cocked back and ready to fire.
Shortly after law enforcement’s arrival, dispatch advised an individual, later identified as Gentry, was at a residence north of the shooting by the garage. Shoemaker immediately went to the residence and observed Gentry exiting the garage and commanded him at gunpoint to put his hands in the air and lie flat on his stomach. Gentry complied. After being cuffed, Gentry said he shot Bowling. Gentry was advised of his rights and transported to the Union County Jail.
Once Bowling was transported, Shoemaker collected Gentry’s gun, the magazine, and other personal items and began processing the scene. At this point, Shoemaker noted that the “red channel locks” were missing.
On March 31, Bowling’s mother was interviewed. During the interview, she explained the night’s event. She was asked if she remembered seeing a wrench in the street, to which she responded no. She further stated that she did not remove anything from the scene.
On April 2, Shoemaker and Major Dale Dishmond returned to the scene for an expanded search of the red-handled tool. Shoemaker called Bowling’s mother to advise he needed to know where the weapon was because it was important to the investigation. At that point, Bowling’s mother said she did remember picking up a red-handled tool and putting it in Bowling’s truck. According to deputies, she did not explain why she moved the tool and said she didn’t see it during the previous interview. She further advised where Bowling’s vehicle was and permitted them to search it. Subsequently, law enforcement found a pair of long-handled wire cutters on the front passenger seat. Deputy Shoemaker positively identified them as the tools he saw on the scene.
Gentry told police when he was walking by the road when Bowling said, “Get over here. I’ve seen the marks you put on my sister. I’m going to kill you.” Gentry denied any physical violence against Bowling’s sister. Gentry said Bradley then ran at him and begged him to stop, then closed his eyes and started shooting. After the initial shot, Gentry stated he thought he heard someone shooting at him, so he reloaded his weapon and ran to a lady’s house near the area, where he knocked on the door and told them he had just shot someone defending himself. Gentry further stated something was in Bowling’s hand when he was running at him, but he didn’t know what it was. He said he was 12 to 14 feet away when he shot Bowling.
However, in a recorded statement by Bradley Bowling while at Miami Valley Hospital, he said after he took his sister home, he traveled to Liberty Pike to pick up his mom’s car when he saw Gentry walking down the road. Bowling stated he approached Gentry and said, “Let’s talk,” and was trying to be nice. Gentry then opened fire on Bowling, striking him twice while he was standing and several times on the ground. Bowling said he returned fire and “got off two or three shots” but didn’t think he hit Gentry. When asked about the cutting pliers lying near his body, Bowling denied carrying the pliers and said they must have fallen through a rusty hole in the door of his vehicle when he was turning a corner to get his mom’s car.
Union County Sheriff’s Department provided the state with the 911 call from Gentry at the time of the shooting. The duration of the call was one minute and 51 seconds. In the call, it was stated Gentry could be heard saying, “Quit Brad, I ain’t playing. I’m going home.” When Gentry was asked what was happening by the 911 operator, Gentry stated, “I’m walking to town, and I’ve got someone chasing me.” It was further stated another male voice could be heard saying, “You’re going to touch my (explicit) sister.” to which Gentry said, “Quit.” Then Bowling is heard again saying, “You want to beat my (explicative) sister.” A moment after this, it sounds like 11 shots were fired within four seconds, followed by an additional four shots. Bowling’s family confirmed he was shot 11 times.
On March 30, the State received notice of a shooting between Oscar Gentry IV, resulting in serious injuries to Bradley Bowling. After reviewing the investigative report and evidence, Bryson stated in the charging decision, “The results of this incident are tragic, and the seriousness cannot be overstated. However, the State does not believe if this case was charged a conviction could be attained beyond a reasonable doubt based on the evidence in combination with Indiana’s deadly force defense statute and the inconsistent testimony of witnesses. The State cannot charge a case without the law, facts, or evidence supporting the conviction. Here, the State has neither the law nor what if would consider credible evidence to support a conviction.”
Bowling’s family is devastated by the incident and does not believe the amount of shots fired at Bowling should be considered self-defense. Instead they believe Gentry did in fact intend to kill Bowling and at the very minimum should be charged with Criminal Recklessness. Bowling’s dad shared, “Everyone has a right to defend themselves, but when you shoot somebody 11 times that is not self-defense.
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March 30 around midnight, Union County Deputy Jeff Shoemaker was dispatched to a residence on Liberty Pike.
In the Union County Prosecutor AJ Bryson’s charging decision and memorandum, it stated the initial caller, Oscar Gentry IV, advised dispatch that he was having an argument and did not feel safe at the residence. Upon Shoemaker’s arrival, he encountered Bradley Bowling and Bowling’s 17-year-old sister. Bowling stated his sister and Gentry had an argument, and Gentry was last seen walking southbound with a handgun on Liberty Pike. Bowling advised Shoemaker he was armed with a Kimber Micro 9mm. When Shoemaker spoke to Bowling’s sister, he reported she was intoxicated and stated the incident started when Gentry was screaming in her face. Shoemaker then searched for Gentry but did not locate him.
Then, around 1:40 a.m., law enforcement was again dispatched to US 27 and Liberty Pike regarding an altercation between Gentry and Bowling. While en route, shots were fired. Officer Trevor Young was the first on the scene and found Bowling lying face down in the roadway and began life-saving measures on Bowling. Young said he found Bowling’s gun under Bowling’s body. It further stated in the charging decision that Young tossed the weapon to a gravel driveway east of Bowling’s body. Shoemaker stated he observed what he believed to be a large set of channel locks lying no more than two feet away from the body. While Young administered first aid, Shoemaker collected the gun that had been tossed by Young. He noted the hammer was cocked back and ready to fire.
Shortly after law enforcement’s arrival, dispatch advised an individual, later identified as Gentry, was at a residence north of the shooting by the garage. Shoemaker immediately went to the residence and observed Gentry exiting the garage and commanded him at gunpoint to put his hands in the air and lie flat on his stomach. Gentry complied. After being cuffed, Gentry said he shot Bowling. Gentry was advised of his rights and transported to the Union County Jail.
Once Bowling was transported, Shoemaker collected Gentry’s gun, the magazine, and other personal items and began processing the scene. At this point, Shoemaker noted that the “red channel locks” were missing.
On March 31, Bowling’s mother was interviewed. During the interview, she explained the night’s event. She was asked if she remembered seeing a wrench in the street, to which she responded no. She further stated that she did not remove anything from the scene.
On April 2, Shoemaker and Major Dale Dishmond returned to the scene for an expanded search of the red-handled tool. Shoemaker called Bowling’s mother to advise he needed to know where the weapon was because it was important to the investigation. At that point, Bowling’s mother said she did remember picking up a red-handled tool and putting it in Bowling’s truck. According to deputies, she did not explain why she moved the tool and said she didn’t see it during the previous interview. She further advised where Bowling’s vehicle was and permitted them to search it. Subsequently, law enforcement found a pair of long-handled wire cutters on the front passenger seat. Deputy Shoemaker positively identified them as the tools he saw on the scene.
Gentry told police when he was walking by the road when Bowling said, “Get over here. I’ve seen the marks you put on my sister. I’m going to kill you.” Gentry denied any physical violence against Bowling’s sister. Gentry said Bradley then ran at him and begged him to stop, then closed his eyes and started shooting. After the initial shot, Gentry stated he thought he heard someone shooting at him, so he reloaded his weapon and ran to a lady’s house near the area, where he knocked on the door and told them he had just shot someone defending himself. Gentry further stated something was in Bowling’s hand when he was running at him, but he didn’t know what it was. He said he was 12 to 14 feet away when he shot Bowling.
However, in a recorded statement by Bradley Bowling while at Miami Valley Hospital, he said after he took his sister home, he traveled to Liberty Pike to pick up his mom’s car when he saw Gentry walking down the road. Bowling stated he approached Gentry and said, “Let’s talk,” and was trying to be nice. Gentry then opened fire on Bowling, striking him twice while he was standing and several times on the ground. Bowling said he returned fire and “got off two or three shots” but didn’t think he hit Gentry. When asked about the cutting pliers lying near his body, Bowling denied carrying the pliers and said they must have fallen through a rusty hole in the door of his vehicle when he was turning a corner to get his mom’s car.
Union County Sheriff’s Department provided the state with the 911 call from Gentry at the time of the shooting. The duration of the call was one minute and 51 seconds. In the call, it was stated Gentry could be heard saying, “Quit Brad, I ain’t playing. I’m going home.” When Gentry was asked what was happening by the 911 operator, Gentry stated, “I’m walking to town, and I’ve got someone chasing me.” It was further stated another male voice could be heard saying, “You’re going to touch my (explicit) sister.” to which Gentry said, “Quit.” Then Bowling is heard again saying, “You want to beat my (explicative) sister.” A moment after this, it sounds like 11 shots were fired within four seconds, followed by an additional four shots. Bowling’s family confirmed he was shot 11 times.
On March 30, the State received notice of a shooting between Oscar Gentry IV, resulting in serious injuries to Bradley Bowling. After reviewing the investigative report and evidence, Bryson stated in the charging decision, “The results of this incident are tragic, and the seriousness cannot be overstated. However, the State does not believe if this case was charged a conviction could be attained beyond a reasonable doubt based on the evidence in combination with Indiana’s deadly force defense statute and the inconsistent testimony of witnesses. The State cannot charge a case without the law, facts, or evidence supporting the conviction. Here, the State has neither the law nor what if would consider credible evidence to support a conviction.”
Bowling’s family is devastated by the incident and does not believe the amount of shots fired at Bowling should be considered self-defense. Instead they believe Gentry did in fact intend to kill Bowling and at the very minimum should be charged with Criminal Recklessness. Bowling’s dad shared, “Everyone has a right to defend themselves, but when you shoot somebody 11 times that is not self-defense.