Williamsburg man who shot firearm at mother arraigned on multiple charges Monday

BOWMAN

A Williamsburg man, who was on the run from police for more than 12 hours Friday after allegedly attempting to shoot his mother, is facing additional charges in connection to the incident, and a not guilty plea has since been entered to on his behalf.

Brady Bowman, 25, appeared in Whitley District Court for arraignment Monday morning, where the plea was entered on his original charge of first-degree wanton endangerment, as well as to his new charges of attempted murder, first-degree robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

An arrest citation obtained from the Whitley Circuit Court Clerk’s office, provides additional details into what transpired at the Flatwoods Home residence Friday morning.

According to the citation, a 911 call was received at approximately 9 a.m. from Bowman’s mother, who said that Bowman was “high on methamphetamine” and came into her living room armed with a .223 rifle demanding her credit cards. When she refused, Bowman allegedly fired in her direction, barely missing her.

Bowman’s mother fled her residence and went to a neighbor’s home where she made the 911 call.

According to information that was provided Friday afternoon by Whitley County Sheriff Bill Elliotte, he and a sheriff’s deputy responded to the call, where the two set up a perimeter around the home.

Once backup arrived, an arrest warrant and search warrants were obtained for the home. Police also pinged the suspect’s phone in order to help determine if he was still in the home. At the time, Elliotte said Bowman was thought to have been armed with an AR-15 rifle and a pistol, so police were taking precautions before attempting to enter the home.

Police were soon provided information from a nearby witness who said that Bowman fled from the residence when he saw law enforcement vehicles and ran from the home on foot. Police entered the home and determined that Bowman was not there.

Bowman’s arrest citation states that once police entered the home, several firearms were found in a safe that Bowman would have had access to.

Friday evening, law enforcement officials released a photo of Bowman on the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook page as part of a new release, warning the public not to approach Bowman if they encountered him as he was considered “armed and dangerous.”

Bowman was later spotted by police on Little Wolf Creek Road, but fled into a wooded area and was not able to be found. He was finally apprehended just after 11 p.m. Friday.

“He was up in the mountains in a tree stand. [Kentucky State Police’s] helicopter detected heat coming from it and our deputies and troopers used ATV to get to him,” said Elliotte following Bowman’s arrest.

The search and subsequent arrest was a joint effort between the sheriff’s department, KSP and the Williamsburg Police Department.

The incident also sparked a soft lockdown at the nearby Pleasant View Elementary School, which was put into effect at approximately 11 a.m. Friday after police learned that Bowman was potentially armed and could be in close proximity to the school.

An alert was sent out on the school district’s One Call system regarding the soft lockdown, in which Whitley County Superintendent John Siler said that nothing has occurred at the school and no student was in danger, noting that it was initiated merely “out of an abundance of caution.”

“The decision to do a soft lockdown was to ensure that our students and staff remain safe,” said Siler in the message.

A soft lockdown does not restrict movement inside the school building, but merely prevents students from exiting the building for recess or other outdoor activities.

Bowman currently remains jailed in the Whitley County Detention Center under a $25,000 cash bond for the first-degree wanton endangerment charge and a $50,000 cash bond for the remaining charges, for a total cash bond amount of $75,000.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 17 at 10 a.m., where the investigating officer could provide testimony to the court regarding the alleged incident.