A Broseley man has been charged with murder and manslaughter in relation to a fatal shooting that occurred in August 2020.
Christopher M. Bowen, 21, of Broseley is charged with the Class A felony of second degree murder and the Class C felony of first degree involuntary manslaughter in the Aug. 4, 2020 fatal shooting of Kyle Legrand.
Butler County deputies originally responded to a residence in the 2400 block of Highway CC in Broseley on that evening.
When deputies entered the residence, Deputy Dakota Loggains reported they saw a male, later identified as Legrand, laying on the kitchen floor with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his head.
Emergency medical services personnel arrived shortly after and stabilized Legrand before he was flown to Region One Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Loggains was informed later that evening that Legrand had died from his injuries.
According to the probable cause statement by Butler County Sheriff’s investigator and evidence technician Kellis Thompson, Loggains spoke to Bowen on the evening of the shooting. Bowen reportedly told Loggains he and Legrand were examining each other’s firearms, at which point the Glock 17 that Bowen was handling discharged and struck Legrand in the head.
Bowen reportedly told Loggains he never had his finger on the trigger and while he had his arms punched out aiming the firearm, his finger was on the slide, but not near the trigger.
Bowen indicated the gun discharged as he began to retract his hands.
Thompson then interviewed Taylor Dugger, Legrand‘s girlfriend, on Aug. 31, 2020, in reference to the shooting. During the course of the interview, Dugger stated Legrand and Bowen had been drinking and smoking marijuana prior to the shooting.
Dugger told law enforcement the two men had their guns out, were showing them to each other and playing with them. She said she went out to Legrand‘s truck and while she was out there, heard a pop sound and heard Bowen screaming inside the house.
Dugger said when she came back inside, she saw Bowen holding Legrand’s head and blood also coming from Legrand’s head.
Thompson also interviewed Bowen that day. During the course of the interview, Bowen allegedly told Thompson he was sighting his pistol, and as he was bringing the gun toward his chest, his finger may have accidentally hit the trigger, resulting in it discharging and striking Legrand in the head. Bowen also told enforcement he may have been high when the shooting took place.
Bowen currently is free on $100,000 bond. His initial appearance took place Wednesday morning at the Butler County Courthouse.