Firefighter faces gunfire after responding to wrong address
A Louisiana man was arrested last week for firing shots after a firefighter mistakenly went to the man’s home on August 7.
A Bernice Fire Department firefighter responding to an emergency was faced with gunfire after arriving at the wrong address on August 7th. Union Parish Sheriff’s detectives arrested 75-year-old John C. Bowen after an investigation into the incident.
Detectives say the volunteer firefighter responded in her own vehicle and parked at the end of Bowen’s driveway while waiting for other firefighters to arrive. She realized she was at the wrong address, but not before Bowen allegedly began walking toward her and firing shots into the ground or the air.
The victim reported Bowen also kept the beam of his flashlight in her eyes during the incident. Detectives said that the victim reported that she was screaming that she was with the fire department, but he kept walking toward her. She reported that she did not try to leave because she felt he might shoot her.
The victim said Bowen never walked in the beam of her headlights and walked up to the window of her car.
Detectives said Bowen called 911 some 10 minutes later and reported that someone tried to rob him. Bowen reportedly said he fired shots but he was on his own property and could shoot any time he wanted.
