A former teacher and Dallas Mavericks dancer has been accused of going on a shooting spree in Dallas and neighboring DeSoto killing four people and wounding four others, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Authorities arrested Erbie Bowser on Wednesday evening and are currently investigating whether or not he used explosives, possibly a hand grenade, during the rampage, according to the Associated Press.
The shootings took place at two different homes in the Dallas area. The attack began at 10:30 p.m. where Bowser allegedly shot and killed Toya Smith, 43, and Smith's daughter Tasmia Allen, 17. Wounded in the attack were Smith's minor son and an unidentified 17-year-old friend. Dallas Police Maj. Jeff Cotner told the Dallas Morning News that Smith had had a distressing conversation with her mother earlier in the evening. Later in the evening Smith did not pick up the phone and her mother went to the home, discovering the victims.
It is believed that Bowser then went to the house in DeSoto and threw a hand grenade into the house before opening fire. Two women were killed in the attack. Bowser also wounded two children, a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old, both boys. A three-year-old child was also found in the home and put into the custody of Child Protective Services, according to the Dallas Morning News.
A man who lived near the DeSoto home, Tommy Johnson, told the Associated Press that he heard a loud boom coming from the house.
"We thought it was coming from upstairs, because the kids are always upstairs making noise," Johnson said. "I went up and asked, 'Did y'all hear anything?' and one of my daughters said it came from outside. So I peeped out the front and that's when I saw a bunch of officers walking down the sidewalk and about 10 houses up."
Bowser had a history of violence and had previously been arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In addition to that charge Bowser had also violated a protective order placed on him after a second divorce in December 2011, according to the Dallas Morning News.
The 6-foot-7 Bowser weighed close to 400 pounds and was once a member of the Mavs ManiAACs, a dance troupe that performs at Dallas Mavericks games. Bowser worked as a special education teacher for 9 years at the Mesquite ISD, according to the Dallas Morning News.
"From what I understand, he was a very likeable guy," Laura Jobe, an administrator for Mesquite ISD, told the Dallas Morning News. "He was described to me as a gentle giant; never anything violent about him. In fact, just the opposite."
