A 62-year-old Kansas man is accused of shooting at three Seattle police officers in Ballard earlier this week.
SEATTLE — Authorities have released bodycam video of an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood earlier this week.
According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the 62-year-old suspect, Christopher Michael Bowman from Kansas, reportedly shot at three Seattle police officers after his 18-year-old ex-wife reported he was following her.
Bowman is charged with first- and second-degree assault. He remains hospitalized in critical condition after officers returned gunfire and shot him on Feb. 12. His bail was set at $3 million.
Bowman’s extensive criminal history consists of out-of-state incidents, including felony convictions for rape, attempted aggravated robbery and kidnapping, among others.
On Thursday night around 6 p.m., an 18-year-old woman told police her ex-husband – identified as Bowman – was following her and that he was likely carrying a gun, documents state.
The woman went into a QFC and was unsure if the suspect followed her into the store.
Three Seattle police officers responded to the area of 28th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 62nd Street after the woman called 911. When officers contacted Bowman on the street, a witness said the officer told him to take his hands out of his pockets, documents state.
The bodycam video shows officers confronting Bowman, who then appears to pull something out of his pocket and aims the object at an officer before gunshots can be heard. The Seattle officers opened fire, striking Bowman. Officers did recover a firearm at the scene.
One officer was injured with a graze wound to the leg during the shooting. She was transported to the hospital and released.
The King County Independent Force Investigations team is in charge of the investigation.
The shooting was near Adams Elementary School. In an email to families, Principal Douglas Sohn said a teachers’ lounge window was struck by a bullet.
“No one inside the building was injured, and there is no indication that any students, staff, or families were directly involved or harmed,” Sohn said.
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