Crime & Public Safety

18-year-old St. Helena resident shot to death at apartment complex Monday night, cops say

Beaufort police received a report of gunfire just after 9:15 p.m. Monday at the Forest Park Apartments, located off Battery Creek Road.
Beaufort police received a report of gunfire just after 9:15 p.m. Monday at the Forest Park Apartments, located off Battery Creek Road. Google Earth

Christopher David Bowen, an 18-year-old from St. Helena, was found shot to death inside a car following a report of gunfire Monday night at Beaufort’s Forest Park Apartments.

Bowen was pronounced dead at the scene following first responders’ arrival around 9:30 p.m. Monday, said Beaufort County Coroner David Ott. His autopsy will be completed Tuesday.

Public records indicate Bowen had been a lifelong resident of St. Helena Island.

The Beaufort Police Department is investigating the shooting. No other injuries or property damage was reported, according to department spokesperson Deputy Chief Stephenie Price.

Monday night’s fatal gunfire follows another murder of a St. Helena man just two days before, when a drive-by shooting killed 36-year-old Malcolm Aiken and injured one other in a group standing outside a residence on Ball Park Road. Police have not identified suspects in either incident.

Price said the incident was the first report of gunfire at the Forest Park Apartments this year.

Anyone with information about this shooting is encouraged to contact Investigator Setian at 843-322-7928 or the Beaufort Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 843-322-7938, referencing case no. 23B47488.

This story was originally published November 21, 2023 at 10:09 AM.

Evan McKenna
The Island Packet
Evan is a breaking news reporter for The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. A Tennessee native and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he reports on crime and safety across Beaufort and Jasper counties. For tips or story ideas, email emckenna@islandpacket.com or call 843-321-8375.
Sebastian Lee
The Island Packet
Sebastian Lee covers Beaufort County for The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2022. If he’s not working he’s most likely watching a good movie or spinning a record.
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