In the early moments of a Friday, just after midnight on January 22, 2021, the sound of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Richmond neighborhood. When police responded to the 2100 block of Deforrest Street for the report of shots fired, they found Marquis Bowles, a Black man in his twenties, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a related incident nearby, a teenage male was also found with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The investigation into the death of Marquis Bowles, known to some as "Poppy," moved forward, and soon a suspect was identified. Less than a month after the shooting, Alex Coles turned himself in to Richmond Police detectives. His surrender led to his arrest in connection with the homicide that had claimed one life and injured a teenager.
Following his arrest, Alex Coles was charged with murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. With Coles in custody, detectives announced that they were not actively searching for any other suspects in the case. The charges brought against him marked a significant development in the investigation, offering a step towards closure for the family and friends of Marquis Bowles.
