Erbie Bowser

Case record: Erbie Bowser

Background

Erbie Bowser was 44 years old and was described as a former special education teacher accused of killing four people in a pair of shootings. Investigators confirmed he used a grenade in one of the attacks.

Bowser had begun divorce proceedings against Zina Bowser in 2011. Court documents showed he made threats against Zina Bowser, telling her that if she tried to take any of their belongings, “I will bury you.”

Zina Bowser obtained a protective order in February 2011 barring Erbie Bowser from coming within 200 yards of her and her children and from communicating with the children. A judge wrote in his report: “Family violence has occurred and is likely to occur in the future.”

Bowser was previously arrested for violating a protective order and evading arrest, according to records. Records also showed he was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Bowser’s employment background included working for nearly a decade as a special education teacher in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite. A school district spokeswoman said he resigned in 2010 “on good terms.” He also worked as a football coach at West Mesquite High School for a couple of seasons. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army from October 1991 to November 2000. The U.S. Army media relations department said he served in the infantry at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii and at Fort Drum in New York and that he was never deployed overseas. The Army said it does not release information about whether a soldier is honorably or dishonorably discharged.

Bowser was a defensive tackle on the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs from 1987-89 and played in three games. He also performed from 2002 to 2009 with the Dallas Mavericks’ Dallas Mavs ManiAACs, described by the NBA as a dance troupe made up of “beefy men” who entertain fans during games.

Bowser was 6-foot-7 and weighed 355 pounds, according to court records. A 2011 bio on the ManiAACs website said Bowser was 6-foot-7 and weighed almost 400 pounds.

The offence

Police described two attacks carried out late Wednesday in the Dallas area, with Bowser using a grenade during the DeSoto attack.

The Dallas attack happened about 15 minutes before the DeSoto attack. Dallas police said Bowser killed Toya Smith, 43, and Toya Smith’s 17-year-old daughter, Tasmia Allen. Smith’s 14-year-old son, Storm Malone, and a 17-year-old family friend, Dasmine Mitchell, were wounded.

The DeSoto attack followed. Investigators said Bowser detonated a grenade inside Zina Bowser’s estranged wife’s house. Police said the explosion injured no one, but Bowser shot and killed Zina Bowser, 47, and Zina Bowser’s daughter, Neima Williams, 28. Two boys, ages 11 and 13, were wounded by gunfire. A 13-year-old son was able to call police.

Police said Bowser initially pretended to be one of the victims and seemed catatonic, giving only his name, military rank and a serial number. Zina Bowser’s younger son identified him as the gunman.

Authorities said Bowser broke down the back door of the DeSoto home and tossed in a hand grenade before fatally shooting Zina Bowser and her daughter, Neima Williams.

Investigation

Police obtained warrants to search for additional explosive materials and weapons at the Dallas home where the shooting rampage began.

A search warrant affidavit said police needed to re-enter the DeSoto home in the 7100 block of Long Canyon Trail “to determine if there are any other explosive devices.” Investigators were looking for “ignitable, flammable, explosive and/or combustible substance(s).” The affidavit also said investigators were looking for possible weapons, ammunition or any other devices used to “ignite, boost, accelerate, fuel, sustain and/or facilitate a fire and/or explosion,”.

Police also found a grenade pin and fragments inside Zina Bowser’s home, along with bullets and shell casings, according to search warrant affidavits.

The ATF spokesman Russ Morrison could not confirm the type of explosive used.

Investigators said Bowser used a grenade in one of the attacks and that investigators had said the explosion injured no one.

Arrest and custody

Police took Bowser to Parkland Memorial Hospital for a physical and emotional evaluation earlier in the day, and he was difficult to interview. DeSoto police spokeswoman Cpl. Melissa Franks said: “He does lapse into periods where he just sits there quietly, or wants to lay down, or doesn’t want to speak.”

Bowser was transferred from a hospital to the Dallas County Jail. His attorneys met him at the jail after the transfer.

Bail was set at $6.5 million.

Charges and trial status

Bowser was charged with capital murder for the attacks that left 4 people dead. He was in prison awaiting trial.

One report said he was being held on three counts of capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with Wednesday night’s rampage.

Another report said Bowser was charged with two counts of capital murder in the DeSoto attack, and Dallas police were preparing two counts of capital murder charges for the Dallas attack.

Bowser had been charged but not indicted.

People involved

Victims (deceased)

• Zina Bowser, 47, estranged wife; a nurse practitioner who worked at John Peter Smith Hospital.
  • She co-wrote the 2012 booklet titled “What the New Family Nurse Practitioner Needs to Know after Graduation.”
  • The hospital statement said: “Our hearts and prayers go out to her family, friends and her fellow team members here at JPS,” and: “Zina was a compassionate member of our healthcare team, providing dedicated care for JPS employees and their family members as a nurse practitioner in our employee health clinic. She touched the lives of many and she will be greatly missed.”
• Neima Williams, 28; daughter of Zina Bowser.
• Toya Smith, 43; girlfriend.
• Tasmia Allen, 17; daughter of Toya Smith.

Victims (wounded)

• Storm Malone, 14-year-old son of Toya Smith.
• Dasmine Mitchell, 17-year-old family friend.
• Two boys ages 11 and 13 were wounded at Zina Bowser’s home. The 13-year-old son was able to call police.

Pre-offence protective order and threats

In the protective order, Zina Bowser described a January 2011 incident during which he threatened the lives of her and her boys after she suggested that he move out of the home they shared on Galleria.

Zina Bowser said Bowser refused to give her anything in the split and threatened her by telling her: “you are going to see what happens.” She asked: “What’s going to happen?” and said Bowser “pointed a finger in her face and said, “I will bury you.” She said he grabbed a pocketknife out of the nightstand, flipped it open and warned her, “Call the police and I will execute your kids.” She called 911 anyway, and Bowser was arrested after she and her boys ran from the home.

A judge granted the protective order and wrote: “Family violence has occurred and is likely to occur in the future.”

Legal proceedings and attorney meetings

Brad Lollar, one of Bowser’s attorneys, met with Bowser alone on Sunday and again on Monday with other attorneys. Lollar said Bowser, who had reportedly been sedated, was not sedated during their meetings. Lollar said: “He is able to talk with us,” and: “We’re just starting, obviously. We’ve got a long way to go,”. Lollar said: “Nothing is going to happen quickly.”

Lollar declined to say what Bowser said during the meetings. Lollar said the defense would await a decision by the district attorney’s office on whether prosecutors would seek the death penalty, saying: “We haven’t heard,” and: “Sometimes it takes them months to make the decision.”

Lollar said Bowser signed a waiver allowing his attorneys access to his medical records from the VA. Lollar and other attorneys waited to see him until he was booked into the Dallas County Jail.

Other details

Police said Bowser was 6-foot-7 inches tall and weighed 355 pounds, according to court records.

Detectives and officials from Dallas police and DeSoto police investigated the attacks. Texas Rangers and officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were involved.

A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Russ Morrison, said: “Police set off an explosive device in the DeSoto home,” while another report quoted DeSoto police as saying it did not harm anyone.

JPS Health Network in Fort Worth said Zina Bowser served as a nurse practitioner and that she would be missed.

A funeral service for Toya Smith and Tasmia Allen was scheduled for noon Saturday at New Birth Baptist Church, 444 W. Ledbetter Drive in Dallas. A service for Zina Bowser and Neima Williams was scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Community Missionary Baptist Church, 115 W. Belt Line Road in DeSoto.

A recovery fund called the Storm Malone Recovery Fund was established at Wells Fargo.

Timeline

• 2011 — Divorce proceedings began between Erbie Bowser and Zina Bowser; Bowser made threats against Zina Bowser in connection with their separation.
• February 2011 — A protective order was granted, stating: “Family violence has occurred and is likely to occur in the future.”
• December 2011 — Bowser was arrested for violating the protective order and evading arrest; records also showed an arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
• Late Wednesday (August 7, 2013) — Bowser carried out attacks in Dallas and DeSoto, leaving four people dead and four others wounded.
• August 8, 2013 — Police obtained warrants to search for additional explosive devices and other materials at the Dallas home associated with the attack.
• August 9, 2013 — Bowser was charged with capital murder after police said the attacks killed multiple people.
• August 12, 2013 — Bowser met with attorneys after being transferred from a hospital to the Dallas County Jail.
• August 16, 2013 — Investigators confirmed Bowser used a grenade in one of the attacks; he was charged with capital murder for attacks leaving four people dead.