A Brown Deer woman is facing a second-degree reckless homicide charge after a dispute over loud music turned fatal on April 19. Keionna McGowan, 27, allegedly shot her neighbor, Akintunde Bowden, a 41-year-old Milwaukee dental surgeon, in the Park Plaza Apartments. According to court documents cited by FOX6 News, McGowan's bond was set at $15,000.
Detailed records revealed that the conflict was sparked by Bowden's complaint about the excessive volume of McGowan's music. During her initial court appearance on Thursday as covered by Journal Sentinel, McGowan remained in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail. The alleged incident involved the use of a dangerous weapon and resulted in a charge of second-degree reckless homicide.
Bowden, who worked at Milwaukee Health Services serving primarily low-income residents, was planning a wedding with his fiancée, Theresa Bell, for this year. In an emotional interview with WISN 12 News, Bell recounts a previous encounter with McGowan that ended peacefully. "The only thing about a month and a half ago, she was playing loud music, so I went up there, asked her to cut it down, there wasn't even any aggression, tension, she was like, 'Oh, I'm sorry,'" Bell said.
McGowan's defense attorney, Robert Webb, insisted in court that the victim had initiated an aggressive confrontation. Webb claimed that an investigator had seen a video that supports the account of Bowden "lunging" at McGowan when she opened her door. Prosecutors, however, underscored that officers found not a beer can, but "a non-alcoholic sparkling water can, not a beer can" between Bowden's legs at the scene, contradicting McGowan's assertion that he appeared intoxicated and was holding a beer can, as per WISN 12 News.
While the Court Commissioner, Barry Phillips, acknowledged that self-defense might be argued by McGowan, he clarified that any final judgement on the shooting is for a jury to decide. "Now I'm not saying she was right for shooting, or wrong for shooting," Phillips expressed during the proceedings. Despite the gravity of the situation, McGowan’s bail was set at $15,000, substantially lower than the $50,000 requested by prosecution, according to court observations by WISN 12 News. McGowan is due back in court on May 5.
