A Lowndes County man was arrested Thursday for shooting at a driver and causing him to wreck.
Billy Bowen, 26, is charged with a drive-by shooting and possession of methamphetamine, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office press release said. He was recently sentenced in Lowndes County Circuit Court to non-adjudicated probation for a separate drug charge, and Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said he will ask for that probation to be revoked.
Deputies responded Tuesday to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle and spoke with the victim, who had been involved in a vehicle accident on Highway 182 East and Lehmberg Road. The victim said he and Bowen were arguing at a friend’s house on the 8000 block of Highway 182.
When the victim left the residence, Bowen allegedly gave chase in a vehicle, shot at the victim during the pursuit and caused the wreck.
Bowen then blocked the road, got out of his vehicle and aimed a handgun at the victim.
The victim was not shot during the incident but was treated for minor injuries from the wreck and released from BMH.
Investigators used video surveillance from the area that captured part of the chase to confirm the victim’s statement. They located Bowen on Thursday and arrested him, seizing methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun in the process. A search warrant of Bowen’s home yielded more evidence related to the incident, as well as more drugs and paraphernalia, the press release said.
“Anyone who sticks a gun in someone’s face and threatens them — not to mention a convicted felon on non-adjudicated probation who isn’t even legally supposed to possess a firearm — deserves to be locked up for a long time,” Hawkins said in the press release. “We are thankful that the victim in this case was not seriously injured. It is never alright to use a gun to settle your differences especially after (being) given a second chance.”
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