Investigation Continues After DFW Shooting Spree
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Erbie Bowser remains in custody Friday morning at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He is the suspect in a Wednesday night shooting spree in Dallas and DeSoto, where four people were killed and four others were wounded. Bowser was taken to the hospital for a physical and mental evaluation.
The suspect has been accused of killing his both ex-girlfriend and his estranged wife, and their daughters. Police executed search warrants on Thursday to look for additional evidence in the shootings. Boswer has been charged with two counts of capital murder so far, and could face more charges as the investigation continues.
The shooting rampage started at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night in Dallas, at a home in the 7100 block of Long Canyon Trail. The victims at this location were identified as 43-year-old Toya Smith and her 17-year-old daughter, Tasmia Allen. Two children were also shot -- Smith's 14-year-old son and 17-year-old Dasmin Mitchell, a family friend who had been visiting. Police said that Smith and Bowser had been dating. Mitchell was able to provide information for authorities, which led them to Bowser.
However, before the suspect was apprehended, he traveled to a second home, this time in the 100 block of Galleria Drive in DeSoto. There, police said that Bowser detonated an explosive device that shattered windows and blew off the drywall, before opening fire again. The two deceased victims in this incident were identified as 47-year-old Zina Bowser and her daughter, 28-year-old Neima Williams. An unidentified 11-year-old boy and 14-year-old were also shot and are now in critical condition. Police said that Zina Bowser is the suspect's estranged wife.
Family members and friends of the eight victims are stunned by the shootings, and angry at the person who they believe pulled the trigger.
"I'm in shock that I'm not going to see her fulfill her dream," said Aaron Allen, father of victim Tasmia Allen. "My worst thing is thinking that I won't get to see her graduate. I won't get to see her have kids. I won't be a grandad. That's my only child."
"I know it's real when I see my little brother," said Tasmin Smith, Malone's brother, early Friday morning. "That's why I just try to stay strong for him right now, because that's all I can do until he come out of here. Then we can just go on from there, because he's going to have to go through a long process before he's back."
"This is a nightmare," said Carolyn Webb, a friend of the DeSoto victims. "They were a happy family."
Bowser was arrested without incident at the DeSoto home. He is an Army veteran who had worked as a special education teacher at Berry Middle School and Mesquite Academy, and as a coach at West Mesquite High School, from December 2001 to March 2010. A spokeswoman for the Mesquite Independent School District said that Bowser resigned in 2010 "on good terms." The 44-year-old suspect also danced with the Dallas Mavericks ManiAACs, leaving the group in 2009. According to authorities, he has said "very little" since being taken into custody, and has offered no explanation for the shootings.
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