In the Oliver community of Baltimore, Maryland, Kenneth Ray Stowers was a familiar and helpful presence. The 50-year-old African-American man had dedicated nearly a decade to working at Big Momma's Grocery, where he was known for his willingness to assist others in the neighborhood. Friends recalled him as someone who would go out of his way for people, especially the local children, and help those who were struggling.
His friendly demeanor and established role in the community made the events of November 5, 2013, all the more tragic.
On that Tuesday afternoon, at approximately 5:23 p.m., Stowers was engaged in a routine task outside the grocery store. He was taking trash cans to the side of the building on the 1100 block of East Oliver Street, near the corner of Holbrook Street. In a sudden act of violence, an unknown individual approached him and shot him multiple times. Medics arrived at the scene, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead about twenty minutes after the shooting.
The investigation into the death of Kenneth Ray Stowers remains without a publicly identified suspect or any announced arrests. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, police acknowledged that Stowers had a significant criminal record dating back about two decades, which included charges for attempted homicide. Despite this history, those who knew him in the years leading up to his death remembered him as a fixture in the community who was tragically taken. The case of his murder has since grown cold, leaving his family and community without answers or a sense of justice for his untimely death.
