James Bow

James Fleming Bowman, a 73-year-old African-American man known to friends and family as “Jim,” was remembered as a kind, funny, and fun-loving father of two. He worked as an armed security officer, a profession he had just finished for the day when his life was violently cut short. Those who loved him recall a man who brought joy to their lives, a stark contrast to the brutal act that ended his.

On the afternoon of Saturday, October 15, 2016, Bowman was in the Sharpstown area of southwest Houston, sitting in his vehicle in his security uniform. At approximately 3:50 p.m., in the 9400 block of Concourse Drive, a witness reported hearing a single gunshot. Immediately after the sound, the witness saw two males and a female running away from the intersection. One of the males held a white T-shirt over his face, obscuring his identity. When the witness went to investigate, they discovered Bowman unresponsive in his car. The vehicle's door was open, and he was still in uniform. A 911 call was placed, but paramedics who arrived on the scene could do nothing; James Bowman was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.

The Houston Police Department (HPD) Homicide Division launched an investigation, with Detectives T. Ferguson and J. Villareal leading the initial inquiry. Evidence at the scene suggested a struggle had taken place. Investigators believed the motive was likely a robbery that had escalated. They theorized that the assailants had tried to steal the keys to Bowman's vehicle, leading to a physical altercation during which Bowman was shot and killed. Police learned that a group matching the description of the fleeing individuals—two Hispanic males and one Hispanic female—had been seen walking toward the location just ten minutes before the fatal shot was fired.

For several months, the case saw few public developments. Then, in February 2017, HPD asked for the public’s help in locating three persons of interest wanted for questioning in connection with Bowman's murder. They were identified as Xochitl “Swisha” Rangel, Daniel Terrazas, and 18-year-old Keven Xavier Rios. Police released photos of all three, noting that Rios was already wanted on a separate charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon from a different incident. Despite this public appeal, years passed without an arrest, and the case grew cold, leaving Bowman's family waiting for a resolution.

After nearly a decade of uncertainty, a major breakthrough finally came. On November 13, 2025, HPD announced that their homicide detectives, working in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force, had located and arrested Keven Xavier Rios, then 26, in Freeport, Texas. The arrest marked the first significant movement in the case since the persons of interest were named years earlier.

Following his capture, Keven Xavier Rios was charged with capital murder for his alleged role in the death of James Bowman. He was booked into the Harris County jail, and his case was assigned to the 487th Criminal District Court. As of November 2025, Rios was in custody awaiting court proceedings. The official status of the other two persons of interest, Xochitl Rangel and Daniel Terrazas, has not been publicly updated since they were first sought for questioning in 2017. The investigation into the murder of James Bowman remains open. Crime Stoppers has previously offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and/or arrest of any suspect in this case. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or to submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.