On September 24th, 2022, Trayvion Bowman had just turned 17-years-old the week prior.
Tray at the time was prescribed a medication to help manage a mental diagnosis.
Officer Jordan Austin was aware of this diagnosis and how it could affect Tray’s behavior as Austin had previously responded to a separate incident months prior to the residence.
Tray’s mother’s boyfriend called the police following an alleged domestic dispute involving Tray. He briefly left the residence before returning 20 minutes later.
Officers Jordan Austin, and Jacob Ditzler responded to the scene. Tray’s mother later stated she had seen signs that Tray was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Austin and Ditzler ran down the stairs where Tray was with his grandmother. As they were coming down, Tray allegedly grabbed two knives from the kitchen. Austin and Ditzler were both at the base of the stairs. Tray’s mother was near the top of the stairs.
Tray went past the two officers and began walking up the stairs. At that point, simultaneously Ditzler fired his taser and Austin fired his gun - both into the back of Tray Bowman.
Courtney Tillman-Listhrop, and Abel Castenada were also present upstairs in the house.
This was the thirtieth case investigated and justified by the Winnebago Boone County Integrity Task Force.
It was the tenth deadly force incident in the 2020’s and the nineteenth since Tom McNamara took mayoral office.