BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Battle Creek detectives say they have gotten several tips that have helped them along in their investigation of the shooting of a young local man, dead from a single bullet wound to the head.
An autopsy has been done on the body of 22-year-old Joseph Bowser, who was found at about 8:12 a.m. Saturday, sometime after it’s believed he was shot to death and his body left in a grassy area behind an apartment building at 85 Stringham Road at the River Apartments.
He had reportedly been visiting a friend at that complex. That friend told police he left at about 11:00 Friday night.
Friends are shocked, saying he had been an honor student, an accomplished athlete and Homecoming King at Battle Creek Central.
They say he was friendly and personable and didn’t have any enemies. Since then he has been an honor student at Western Michigan University and was about a year away from graduating with an engineering degree.
Detectives believe it was a targeted assault on Bowser and the public is not in any danger but they also say the exact reason for his murder is still under investigation.
They continue to solicit tips from anyone have additional information.
For the last few days, Bowser was helping his father paint a church in preparation for the celebration of Easter.
