In the early hours of February 16, 2004, a routine traffic stop on Gilbert Avenue in Detroit ended in deadly violence. Matthew Edmond Bowens, a 21-year-old Detroit Police Department officer assigned to the 4th Precinct, was on duty with his partner, Officer Jennifer Fettig. While the officers were processing a vehicle at about 2:00 a.m., the vehicle’s driver emerged and opened fire with a .40 caliber handgun, striking the patrol car and both officers.

Officer Bowens was hit three times in the initial assault, managed to exit the vehicle and fire three rounds before tending to his partner and calling for backup. The assailant then reappeared, shot Bowens six more times, stole his service weapon and fled. Both officers were taken to Henry Ford Hospital; Bowens was pronounced dead on arrival. The dashcam partially captured the attack, and video evidence helped lead to the shooter’s and his brother’s arrests a few hours later.

Bowens had served three years with the department, was the youngest of four sons and lived with his parents at the time of his death. Does anyone have memories of Bowens or information about that night that could add to the record?