June 2, 2005
The massive search ended for the man police in Richmond say killed three people on Wednesday, June 1.
Richmond Police have their man. The manhunt ended outside of a hotel in Eastern Henrico County around 9 o'clock Thursday night.
Police across the Commonwealth, including here in Charlottesville, are feeling relief after an extensive manhunt spanning more than 24 hours is now over. Officers on the local, state, and federal levels were searching for a man they believe killed three people on Wednesday.
Police say they suspect 26-year-old Daniel Bowler in the slayings which happened just before nightfall. The first happened in a public housing complex and the others at two stores in a strip mall.
Witnesses to the mall shootings says the gunman was shouting racist remarks at the victims as he shot them in the head. Police originally thought the shootings to be a hate crime, but later said Bowler was acting with some sort of retaliation against his victims.
"We believe the suspect knew all three victims. Based on the most recent information, we believe the motive may have been some form of retaliation," said Chief Rodney Monroe, of the Richmond Police Department.
The dead are identified as a 43-year-old convenience store clerk, a 39-year-old owner of a nearby dry cleaners, and a 29-year-old.
A captain with Richmond Police says Bowler was taken into custody without incident.
As for the details of the arrest, the captain says they'll be released some time soon.
Suspect Caught In Triple Slayings 