Boston Police Gunned Down Black Man -- Widow longs for `justice'
Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 06:27AM 
- Urban League says his rap sheet does not justify his death
Bowen, 40, was killed in Roxbury by gunfire from two
Boston police officers. Authorities said he threatened the cops with a
.40-caliber firearm after a traffic stop and scuffle, but witnesses
said he appeared unarmed as he attempted to flee on foot. Police
recovered the weapon next to Bowen's body on Brookford Street. Dorothy
Bowen said she wants answers from police. Community leaders in Roxbury
and Dorchester also want to hear from authorities. Bert Bowen had a
12-page criminal record dating back to 1981 with 53 arraignments, many
for armed robbery while armed with a handgun and assault and battery
with a dangerous weapon. Records indicate he also had three restraining
orders taken out against him by a woman who had children by Bowen. The
Urban League's Williams said Bowen's rap sheet does not justify his
death, which remains under investigation by both Boston police and
Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley's office. ``Police do a tough
job, but we need to look at the circumstances surrounding the incident
rather than his background,'' Williams said [more 
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