More details on Wednesday evening homicide

By Linda Cicoira

More details were disclosed in court records Thursday regarding the shooting death of a New Church man at the Royal Farms on Chincoteague Road, in Wattsville, late Wednesday night.

In addition to the homicide of 25-year-old Miguel Ethan Soto Trader, a “female bystander was struck by a projectile and was transported to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital for treatment,” the Accomack General District Court file stated. Her identity was only described with her initials, “E.D.” Her condition and age were not disclosed.

Investigator Matthew J. Taylor wrote on a warrant that a video of the incident showed “multiple employees and customers were inside the Royal Farms.” Several people were seen “fleeing or taking cover as gunfire erupted.”

The suspect, 19-year-old David Dean Bowden Jr., of Crabapple Lane in New Church, told authorities that he had what he called an “ongoing feud over a female” with Trader.

Deputies arrived at the scene to find Trader lying on the floor of the convenience store. He was deceased. Sheriff Todd Wessells said that his officers found Trader with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. His body was taken to the Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

While the officers were at the store investigating, Bowden called the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office and admitted that he shot Trader. His mother, Sandra Bowden, brought him in to surrender. He is being held in the Accomack Jail with a bond denied. He appears to have no prior criminal record.

Deputies recovered a “Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the vehicle Bowden arrived in.” He was charged with second-degree murder, discharging a firearm in an occupied building, use of a gun in a felony, and unlawful wounding. A hearing has been set for later this month.

Bowden told deputies that “Trader, along with his associates, had previously threatened him and were known to carry firearms.” That evening, he went to the store “with his sister and a male friend. On arrival, he observed Trader and his associates at a gas pump. Bowden entered the store with his companions, approached the deli counter, and kept his attention on the gas pumps. He stated that when Trader entered the store, he believed Trader was reaching for a firearm.”

“At that time, Bowden drew a pistol from under his sweatshirt and fired four rounds,” he told police. “When his weapon jammed, Bowden cleared the malfunction and fired three more shots, striking Trader as he attempted to flee toward the northeast exit,” where deputies found him.

“Bowden admitted his intent was to kill Trader,” the file stated. After the shootings, Bowden went home.

Footage of a video from the Royal Farms “collaborated much of the sequence of events,” the investigator noted. It showed Bowden arriving at the store around 11:20 p.m. and parking in the northeast corner. Bowden exited the passenger side of the vehicle, looked at the gas pumps, and entered the store” with the other two. Inside Bowden appeared to adjust the area of his sweatshirt consistent with concealing a firearm,” the warrant stated.

About two minutes later, “Trader entered the store through the west entrance with his hands free and began walking towards Bowden. The video depicts Bowden addressing Trader before immediately drawing his firearm and fired. Trader turned around and ran towards the northwest exit with his hands down, and Bowden pursued him, firing multiple shots. Trader collapsed in the doorway, at which point, Bowden experienced a firearm malfunction. Bowden and his companions then stepped over Trader’s body and exited the store,” the investigator wrote.