In the winter of 2022, a gathering of friends around a bonfire in Foley, Alabama, took a tragic turn, ending the life of 20-year-old Chance Lee Marks. On the night of Friday, February 4th, amidst the camaraderie and warmth of the fire near George Yatch Road, a single gunshot abruptly ended the young man's life.
The investigation into the untimely death of Chance Marks, a male resident of Foley, quickly centered on one of his own friends who was present at the party.
According to witness accounts and the subsequent police investigation, the festive atmosphere was shattered when another young man, 21-year-old Tommy Bowyer, allegedly produced a nine-millimeter handgun. It was reported that Bowyer first fired a couple of shots into the air. In a reckless and fateful act, he is said to have fired the weapon again, this time striking Marks in the chest.
Despite the immediate efforts of those present and the swift arrival of the Foley Police, the wound proved to be fatal, and Chance Lee Marks was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators determined that the shooting was not the result of an altercation or dispute between the two friends, who had grown up and attended school together. The incident was characterized by law enforcement as a result of reckless behavior.
In the days following the tragic event, Tommy Bowyer turned himself in to the authorities. He was subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of his friend. After his surrender, Bowyer was released on a $50,000 bond. The community was left to grapple with the sudden loss of a young life and the somber reality of a friendly gathering turned into a scene of profound sorrow. The final disposition of the manslaughter charge against Tommy Bowyer has not been publicly reported.
