In the late hours of a Wednesday evening, the typically quiet community of the Bolden Village Apartments in southwest Atlanta was disturbed by the sound of gunfire. On May 28, 2025, police responded to a call around 11 p.m. at the complex located on the 2900 block of Springdale Road. There, they discovered 36-year-old Junior Bowen, a male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a patio area. Despite the efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe Bowen was initially shot inside an apartment before he made his way outside, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The initial investigation into Bowen's death presented a puzzle for detectives. Neighbors at the apartment complex confirmed that he did not live there, although some had seen him in the area before. With no immediate suspects or clear motive, the Atlanta Police Department's Homicide Unit began the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to the fatal shooting. In an effort to generate leads, authorities, in conjunction with Crime Stoppers, offered a $5,000 reward for any information that could lead to an arrest and indictment in the case. The public was urged to come forward with any details that might help solve the crime.
A significant break in the case came nearly two months later. On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the Atlanta Police Department arrested Kendarius Lamont Harris in connection with the deadly shooting. Harris was taken into custody and faced a litany of charges, including murder. In addition to the murder charge, his other charges included the purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution, or sale of marijuana; possession of a Schedule I controlled substance; possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also charged with four counts of unlawful for a person employed by or associated with a criminal street gang to conduct or participate in criminal activity and one count of unlawful for a person to commit an offense with the intent to obtain, earn membership, maintain, or increase his status in a gang. Funeral services for Junior Bowen were held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the West Hunter Street Baptist Church.
