A Texas man has pleaded guilty to shooting his girlfriend in the head while she was taking a bath, during which they were involved in a heated argument over finances.
The Bexar County District Attorney confirmed that Judge Jennifer Peña sentenced Donevyn Bowie to serve 38 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to murder following the death of Shamiah Allen.
The district attorney’s office revealed in a press release that Bowie, 25, and Allen, 21, were in a “heated argument” over finances at the time Bowie shot Allen twice as she took a bath, according to KSAT.
“This was a senseless act of violence that took a life in a moment of anger,” District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in a statement following the sentencing. “Today’s sentence ensures accountability and reflects our commitment to seeking justice for victims of domestic violence.”
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He received the sentence more than two years after the shooting took place on December 15, 2023. Cops reported to the Ridgeline at Rogers Ranch Apartments in San Antonio just after 9:30 p.m., where they found Allen suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the outlet. She was quickly rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead from her injuries.
Bowie was arrested at the scene on a murder charge, and he later claimed that the shooting was accidental.
Police launched an investigation into the matter, and they were able to confirm that Bowie and Allen were in a romantic relationship at the time of the incident.
His trial was originally scheduled to begin on April 6. However, the case never made it to trial after Bowie ultimately agreed to a plea deal.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Raymond Saldaña and Luis Echeverria of the Family Violence Division led the prosecution team in Bowie’s case, and they also worked with Victim Advocate Paul Manriquez and Investigator Brian King.
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Not much is known about Bowie and Allen’s relationship, including how long they were together at the time of her death or if they had a history of domestic violence.
Her obituary revealed that she was originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and her funeral took place at Anthony L. Watkins Funeral Home Jonesboro Chapel in Jonesboro, Georgia.
By agreeing to the plea deal, Bowie likely got a lighter sentence than he would have gotten otherwise. In the state of Texas, those found guilty of first-degree murder are typically sentenced to serve between 5 to 99 years in prison. Meanwhile, those found guilty of second-degree murder can be sentenced to serve between 2 to 20 years in prison.
