On the evening of May 24, 2017, LaWane Toles, a 43-year-old Black or African American man, was found deceased on Railroad Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene near Went Field Park. At the time of his death, Toles, a resident of New Haven, was working for the New Haven Department of Public Works, a job his family said he was very happy with.
He was remembered by loved ones as a kind-hearted and giving person, a gifted singer who was devoted to his family.
The investigation into Toles' death led police to a suspect within days. Six days after the discovery of Toles' body, a police officer pulled over his stolen red Hyundai Sonata. The driver, 24-year-old Deondre Bowden of Norwalk, was taken into custody. In Bowden's possession were two of Toles' credit cards. Initially, Bowden denied knowing Toles, but later admitted they were friends. He told investigators that on the day of the murder, he had been driving around with Toles and another individual when Toles began talking about the money he was earning at his new job.
Authorities believe that robbery was the motive for the killing. Bowden was charged with felony murder, first-degree robbery, and several gun charges. While incarcerated, Bowden sent a letter to a friend asking them to retrieve a bag from his home. Police intercepted the letter and, with a search warrant, found a. 44-caliber handgun at the residence.
In December 2019, a jury found Deondre Bowden guilty of the murder of his friend, LaWane Toles. In February 2020, Bowden was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his crimes. During the sentencing, Bowden expressed remorse for Toles' death but maintained his innocence in the actual killing. The judge, however, noted the senselessness of the crime and Bowden's past criminal history in delivering the lengthy sentence.
