Crime
21-year-old James Sencer Bowen Jr killed after shooting outside Engineered Plastics Components in Bessemer
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
Bessemer police are continuing their search for a suspect following a deadly shooting that occurred at Engineered Plastics Components Inc. on Monday afternoon.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of the factory, located off Greenwood Parkway, around 3:45 PM. A male victim was transported to UAB Hospital, where he was tragically pronounced deceased.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
This homicide follows a violent Labor Day weekend that shocked the Bessemer community.
While some residents and workers in the area express a sense of desensitization to such violence, others are deeply disturbed by the incident.
Bessemer police have stated that Monday’s fatal shooting is believed to be an isolated incident and that the public is not considered to be in danger.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 21-year-old James Sencer Bowen, Jr.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the Bessemer Police Department at 205-425-2411. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Crime
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.