“I AM NOT PUTTING THESE WEAPONS DOWN”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AUTHORITIES SAY AN 18-YEAR-OLD CONFRONTED LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH MULTIPLE LOADED GUNS AND POINTED A RIFLE AT A DEPUTY… AND A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR HAS RULED THE FATAL USE OF FORCE FULLY JUSTIFIED.
A Wyoming sheriff’s deputy will not face criminal charges for the shooting death of an 18-year-old man.
The decision follows an independent investigation into the April fatal shooting of Zander Bowlin.
Investigators determined that the deputy acted lawfully during the encounter.
On April 20, the incident began at the Sweetwater Heights apartment complex in Rock Springs.
Police initially arrived at the complex in response to a reported hit-and-run.
Officers then received information regarding Bowlin.
The report indicated that Bowlin had shot himself.
Information provided to law enforcement stated he was inconsolable.
Officers were warned that Bowlin had access to multiple firearms.
The report further indicated that he might shoot responding officers.
Officers initially located Bowlin inside an apartment holding a handgun.
They repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon.
Officers then backed out of the apartment.
They began evacuating nearby residents from the building.
Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Deputy Nathaniel Hull later made contact with Bowlin from outside the building.
Investigators said Bowlin repeatedly moved between the apartment and balcony while armed with different firearms.
Bowlin pointed weapons toward Hull more than once during those encounters, according to investigators.
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Hull reportedly stayed behind cover.
The deputy did not fire his weapon during those earlier exchanges.
Then the situation escalated.
Bowlin emerged from the apartment carrying an AR-style rifle.
According to the investigation, Bowlin lowered the rifle toward an area where officers, patrol vehicles and evacuating residents were located.
Bowlin then turned the rifle toward Hull.
Hull fired three rounds.
The gunfire struck Bowlin.
Tactical officers subsequently moved in to secure the scene.
Officers recovered four firearms in Bowlin’s immediate possession or nearby.
The recovered weapons included two handguns found in his waistband.
Officers also recovered the AR-style rifle.
Multiple weapons among the four recovered were loaded.
Bowlin died five days later from his gunshot injuries.
A special prosecutor reviewed the case and found Hull’s use of deadly force was justified.
The prosecutor determined that Bowlin posed an immediate threat to officers and civilians.
The prosecutor concluded that the deputy did not have to wait to be shot first.
No criminal charges will be filed against the deputy.
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