Police: Second suspect arrested in Chattanooga shooting death

photo Deangelo Demon Bowman

Two fellow gang members of homicide victim Barry Bowman now have been arrested in his shooting death, according to Chattanooga police.

Deangelo D. Bowman, 21, faces charges of criminal homicide, five counts of reckless endangerment and a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon after he opened fire from the rear passenger window of a Lexus SUV. A woman who answered the door at his residence Tuesday declined to comment.

Barry Bowman, who is not related to Deangelo "D-Low" Bowman, was sitting in the front passenger seat when the shooting took place. He was shot in the head when someone on Walden Street returned fire during the shootout Sept. 19, according to the arrest report.

"Gang activity will not be tolerated in Chattanooga to any degree," police Chief Bobby Dodd said. "In situations like this where gang members are victims and suspects, we will use any city ordinance, state law or federal regulation available to us to address gang activity. Period."

Last week police arrested the driver of the vehicle, 29-year-old Timothy "OG Kokaine" Sexton, on the same charges after he told police he went to the residence on Walden Street when he received a phone call from his brother who said rival gang members had surrounded the home. Sexton also reportedly opened the fire on the group of rival gang members.

The men are documented members of the Tree Top Piru Bloods, police said.

Barry Bowman, 22, reportedly asked that he and his fiancé, who was also in the vehicle, be dropped off before the drive-by shooting. His request was ignored by Sexton, according to the report.

When Bowman was shot in the head, Sexton drove him to Parkridge Medical Center. He was transferred to Erlanger hospital where he died Sept. 24.

At this point, more arrests are unlikely, police said.

"We have exhausted leads and information on the shooting concerning the victims who returned fire. If there are any new leads or information that comes to our attention, we will revisit the case," Dodd said.

There have been 22 homicides in the city this year. That's one fewer compared to the same time last year. In 2011, there were a total of 25 homicides in Chattanooga.

Deangelo Bowman's bond is set at $300,000. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 11 before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge David Bales.

Contact staff writer Beth Burger at bburger@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6406. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/abburger.

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