Hartford PD Fatal Shooting Of Suspect In 2025 Ruled Justified: State

HARTFORD, CT — As the state probes the circumstances of two separate fatal officer-involved shootings in Hartford this year, on Feb. 27 and Feb. 19, the state on Thursday closed the investigation of one from last year.

A state investigation has found that three Hartford Police Department officers were legally justified when they used deadly force during a March 2025 encounter in the city’s North End that ended in the death of suspect William Bowen.

In a report released Thursday, April 2, Connecticut Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott concluded that HPD officers Robert Bohm and Det. Benjamin Lee, along with Det. Joseph Walsh, acted reasonably under the circumstances and will face no further action.

Prescott's 50-page report outlined the events of that day:

What happened

The shooting occurred around 2:30 p.m. on March 6, 2025, near Homestead Avenue and Magnolia Street.

Police monitoring Instagram Live saw Bowen walking in Hartford’s North End, displaying what appeared to be two firearms.

Officers assigned to a regional auto theft task force were sent to the area and approached Bowen in unmarked vehicles.

According to the report, Bowen pointed a handgun at officers during the initial encounter.

Lee and Bohm fired multiple rounds as Bowen fled through nearby yards, discarding two firearms while running.

Moments later on Magnolia Street, Walsh encountered Bowen, who ran toward him holding what turned out to be a cellphone.

A doorbell camera recorded Walsh yelling, “Drop the gun. Drop the gun,” before firing.

Bowen was struck four times and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Key findings

Prescott’s review focused on whether each officer reasonably believed deadly force was necessary.

• Det. Benjamin Lee: Investigators found Lee reasonably believed Bowen posed an immediate, deadly threat after pointing a firearm at officers. Although Lee fired as Bowen turned and ran, the report noted the delay was brief — less than two seconds — and consistent with human reaction time.
• Officer Robert Bohm: Bohm fired as Bowen fled. He told investigators he believed Bowen had already fired at officers. The report determined that belief, though likely mistaken, was reasonable given the chaotic scene and limited visibility.
• Det. Joseph Walsh: Walsh fired seconds after Bowen emerged from an alley and ran toward him. Although Bowen no longer had a gun, the report found Walsh reasonably believed he was still armed, citing earlier observations, radio traffic reporting “shots fired,” and Bowen’s movements.

The report emphasized that officers knew Bowen had possessed a firearm modified with a “Glock switch” and a high-capacity magazine, increasing the perceived threat.

Legal standard and decision

Under Connecticut law, investigators assessed whether each officer:

• Subjectively believed they or others faced imminent deadly force, and
• Whether that belief was objectively reasonable.

Prescott concluded all three officers met both standards.

“A reasonable police officer… would have shared the belief that the use of deadly physical force was necessary,” the report states in multiple findings.

Disputes and uncertainties

The report acknowledges key uncertainties:

• Bowen was unarmed when Walsh fired, though officers did not know he had discarded his weapons.
• Bohm likely misinterpreted gunfire from another officer as coming from Bowen.

Despite those factors, the report determined the officers’ perceptions were reasonable in real time.

What’s next

The inspector general’s office said it will take no further action, closing the case.

The decision leaves any additional review — such as internal department policy changes or community response — to local officials in Hartford.

For the full report released on Thursday by the CT Office of the Inspector General, click on this link.

To watch body camera footage of the fatal shooting, click on this link (Viewer discretion is advised.)

From March 10, 2025: 'Video, New Details Released In Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting In Hartford'