The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is continuing its investigation of the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Monday, May 16 in Marshall County.
In a Friday afternoon statement from KSP officials, a preliminary investigation indicates that on the afternoon of May 16, the Marshall County Special Response Team (comprised of personnel from multiple local agencies) arrested Gary Rowland, a 30-year-old from Murray, in Benton for outstanding arrest warrants.
The warrants issued were for charges including absconding from parole and other drug and firearm-related crimes.
Rowland was transported to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office after the arrest. While there, Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Donald Bowman and Calloway County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jody Cash interviewed him an investigation unrelated to the arrest warrants.
Both Bowman and Cash served as part of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force.
During the interview, Rowland requested to smoke a cigarette, and both Bowman and Cash escorted him outside in front of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.
While smoking, Rowland produced a handgun, which had been concealed on his person, and fired it in the direction of, and striking, Cash. Bowman and Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Little utilized their agency-approved firearms to return fire, striking Rowland.
On-scene personnel attempted life-saving measures for both Cash and Rowland. Marshall County EMS transported both to Marshall County Hospital, where they were pronounced deceased.
Bowman and Little were placed on administrative leave following the incident. Bowman is a 27-year law enforcement veteran and has served with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office since 2019. Little is a four-year law enforcement veteran, having served all four years with the Marshall County Sheriff’s office.
To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered.
