Zachary Bower, a 22-year-old male from Bandera, Texas, tragically died on January 31, 2021, after being shot in the head just outside the Bandera city limits on Houston Street. The incident occurred after Zachary's arrival at the scene where his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, Austin Small, was present. A physical altercation ensued between Small and Zachary, which led to Zachary falling to the ground face down.
Small then shot Zachary in the back of the head.
In the early morning hours of February 1, 2021, Austin Small was arrested by Kerrville law enforcement officers and later turned over to the Texas Rangers and the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office. Small, aged 25 at the time, faced charges of murder, two counts of deadly conduct, and child endangerment. He was released on a $125,000 bond while awaiting trial.
The case proceeded to court, and Small was found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison with the possibility of parole in 30 years. Small's appeal against the conviction argued that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the lesser included offenses of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, but the appeal was denied.
The tragic death of Zachary Bower and the subsequent legal proceedings have deeply affected the Bandera community, with many rallying to support the victim's family and seeking justice for Zachary.
