A gathering at a cookout in St. Louis took a tragic turn, ending in the death of 44-year-old Percy Bowman. On the evening of March 15, 2025, in the Fairground neighborhood, a dispute escalated into fatal violence, leaving a community shaken and a family mourning the loss of a man described as fun, loving, and a comedian.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:19 PM in the 4200 block of Peck Street. According to police, Turley Smith, 31, arrived at the cookout where Bowman was present.
An argument erupted between the two men after Bowman questioned Smith's presence. The verbal altercation quickly intensified, culminating in Smith allegedly taking Bowman's own gun and shooting him. Witnesses reported that after Bowman had fallen to the ground defenseless, Smith shot him again.
When officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the scene, they found a crowd surrounding Bowman, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite any efforts to help, he was pronounced dead at the location. The Hazelwood man, known affectionately as 'P' or 'Perc,' was a father of four.
In the days following the shooting, the investigation led by homicide detectives pointed toward Smith as the primary suspect. He was subsequently arrested in connection with the deadly shooting. Prosecutors have since charged Turley Smith with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged role in the death of Percy Bowman.
