Minutes after issuing a five-page statement yesterday calling the fatal shooting of a Roxbury man by police last June justified, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office withdrew that declaration, citing concerns among the victim's family and community activists. The bizarre turnaround caught members of the news media assembled for a press conference by surprise as they were asked to relinquish their copies of the report. "The Bowen family and community leaders have voiced their concerns and opinions, and we promised to give them due consideration,'' said spokesman David Procopio. ``This is the right thing to do.'' He said the findings would be released in ``several days.'' Bert Bowen, 40, was pulled over on Blue Hill Avenue June 27 on a routine traffic stop. According to police, Bowen struggled with an officer, got out of his grasp, and then pulled a gun from his waist while trying to flee. At one point in the chase, Bowen allegedly pointed the .40-caliber weapon in the direction of one of two pursuing officers and police fired at him in response. Bowen was shot in the head, back, and leg, according to police. But witnesses said Bowen had nothing in his hands as he ran from police. Bowen's family and several community leaders met with authorities in the days after the shooting and said they would wait for the district attorney's findings before deciding what course of action to take. [more]
- Pictured above: Dorothy Bowen, widow of Bert Bowen who was shot
and killed by Boston police, walks with NAACP head Leonard Alkins
- Police leave widow questioning death [more]
- Victoria Snelgrove's death was not an isolated event. It's time to start asking some tough questions about the Boston Police Department. [more]
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