On May 24, 2023, at approximately 11:28 p.m., Kinston Police Department officers responded to a reported shooting in the 400 block of North Davis Street in Kinston, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered 22-year-old Franklin Antonio "Tony" Bowden II inside a vehicle, deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
In the subsequent investigation, authorities identified multiple suspects connected to Bowden's murder.
On May 25, 2023, police arrested 31-year-old Tyrone Anthony Koonce in Kinston. Koonce was charged with aiding and abetting murder and possession of two stolen firearms. He was detained in the Lenoir County Jail under a secured bond.
Further developments led to the apprehension of 34-year-old Mario Devon King, who was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police outside Pittsburgh on June 1, 2023. King faced charges of first-degree murder and awaited extradition to Kinston.
On July 12, 2023, Kinston Police Department SWAT, Patrol, and Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) units arrested 39-year-old Retho Gardner. Gardner was found hiding in a residence in the 900 block of Candlewood Drive in Kinston. After obtaining a search warrant, officers located Gardner, who surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody.
The arrests of Koonce, King, and Gardner marked significant progress in the investigation into Bowden's death. Authorities continued to encourage anyone with additional information to contact the Kinston Police Department's Tips Line or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers to aid in the ongoing investigation.
