HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 09-14 Charges: Maplewood man reportedly shot son over dispute about television STAR TRIBUNE Charges: Maplewood man reportedly
shot son over dispute about televisior�
90-year-old told police there was also friction over son caring for
him.
By Nicole Norfleet(http://www.startribune.com/nicole-norfleet/101685423/)Star Tribune
SEPTEMBER 14,2015—9:38PM
A 90-year-old man was charged Monday with second-degree murder after he told police
he shot and killed his oldest son over the weekend after the two argued over watching
television at their Maplewood home.
Kenneth H.Bowser was charged in Ramsey County District Court with the death of
Larry Bowser,who had lived with his father for at least the past decade.Larry Bowser,
65,had told neighbors that his father had been suffering from Alzheuner's disease and
that his condition was getting worse.
"When I first heard the age of the suspect,I was stunned,"Maplewood Police Chief Paul
Schnell said Monday."As we look at that aging population...how do we protect them
and how do we protect their families?"
Although police were called to the Bowser home several tunes in the past to provide
medical assistance and check on the elder Bowser's welfare,there was no police record
of conflict between the father and son,Schnell said.
The chief described Kenneth Bowser as"pretty frail."
According to the criminal complaint: I
Police were called to the home in the 1200 block of Hilltop Court before 8 p.m.Saturday'
by Kenneth Bowser,who said he shot his son.
Officers arrested Bowser without incident.His son,shot once in his back,died at the
scene.Police found a revolver in the home.
As officers sat with Kenneth Bowser after the shooting,he muttered several
"spontaneous"statements.Among them:"He want to call me a bunch of names all
week"and"If it hadn't been me it would have been hun,it would be me or him,"the
complaint said.
Kenneth Bowser also told police he'd heard a story on TV about a son killing his father
by setting him on fire;he was concerned the same could happen to him.He said his son
also complained about caring for him.
Kenneth Bowser then told officers that he'd had a pistol in his bedroom drawer a friend
had given him 20 years ago.He said he never fired it,but put it under his pillow.
Bowser said he was watching TV in his bedroom Saturday when his son came in and
told hun he wanted hirn to come to the living room to watch a football game with him.
Bowser said he wanted to continue watching T'V in the bedroom and told his son to
leave.When Larry Bowser later returned to the bedroom and started to remove the TV
cables,Kenneth Bowser said he wanted to scare him by shooting in his direction,but
instead the bullet struck and ldlled his son,the complaint said.
At that point,Kenneth Bowser called 911.
Schnell said the case was eerily familiar to another deadly shooting about 18 months
ago,also in Maplewood,when an 84-year-old man shot and killed his 3G-year-old son.
Pang Se Vang pleaded guilry to second-degree murder and died in jail in October 2014,
one week before he was to be sentenced.Vang told his pastor on the morning of that
shooting that he was upset because his son would not install cable television in the
home.
Within the Mapiewood Police Department,the Bowser case has iguted discussions on
potential intervention techniques to try to curb intrafamily violence,Schnell said.
"Is there anything that can be done to try to minimize these type of things from
happening?"he said.
Kenneth Bowser is scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charges Tuesday.
Twitter:@nicolenorfleet
nicole.norfleet@startribune.com 612-673-4495