Bryan Jerome Bowen, a 27-year-old man from Los Angeles, California, tragically lost his life on March 21, 2018. The incident occurred in the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood, specifically in the 300 block of West 101st Street. On the night of March 20, around 11:50 p.m., two men entered a home where Bowen was present. One of the intruders pointed a gun at a man sitting on a couch and inquired about a man "with the gold chains."
Bowen then entered the room, and the gunman directed his weapon at him. In an attempt to disarm the assailant, Bowen tried to wrestle the gun away but was shot in the process. Despite efforts to save him, Bowen was pronounced dead at 12:18 a.m. on March 21 at a nearby hospital.
The shooter was identified as Chizem Cassell, a 19-year-old man. After the shooting, Cassell's accomplice fled the scene, but other individuals in the home managed to subdue and beat Cassell. He was briefly hospitalized before being booked on suspicion of murder. Investigations revealed that prior to entering the house, Cassell had approached a man sitting in a parked car, pointed a gun at him, and demanded money. When the man claimed he had none, Cassell and his accomplice walked away. The motive behind their presence in the neighborhood remains unclear.
Cassell faced multiple charges, including murder, attempted home invasion robbery, first-degree burglary, and attempted robbery. Additionally, he was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. His accomplice, Tavarious Gammage, an 18-year-old man, was arrested on April 18, 2018, and also charged with murder, attempted home invasion robbery, first-degree burglary, and attempted robbery. Prosecutors alleged that the killing was committed for a gang during the commission of an attempted robbery and burglary.
The case drew significant attention, and authorities urged anyone with information to come forward. Detectives could be contacted directly, and anonymous tips were encouraged through Crime Stoppers. The tragic death of Bryan Jerome Bowen highlighted the ongoing issues of gun violence and gang-related activities in certain neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
