Six 911 calls made after shootout between police & Semmes business owner

SEMMES, Ala. (WALA) - UPDATE: According to the Mobile County Communications District, six 911 calls were made after Johnny Bowman Jr. was shot five times by officers after police say he opened fire on them inside his business in the middle of the night.

A source told FOX10 News at least one of those calls was made by Bowman Jr. himself, the owner Bowman’s Auto Air.

The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office shared new details about what led up the gunfire.

Investigators say Semmes Police noticed a cut padlock on an open door at the business during a routine patrol on Jan. 4 around 3 a.m.

Semmes Police Chief Todd Freind said there were reports of burglaries in the area that same night, and officers were concerned that someone targeted the business, so officers made their way inside.

MCSO said after the officers announced their presence several times, they found a camper that Bowman Jr. was inside.

The Sheriff’s Office said Bowman was armed with a handgun.

The agency said an “exchange of gunfire ensued between Bowman and the officers.”

Freind said Bowman was shot multiple times and was taken to the hospital.

One SPD officer was grazed by a bullet across the lower back.

A close family friend of Bowman says he’s got a long road to recovery, and he’s not the criminal he’s being made out to be.

We have requested the 911 transcripts and are waiting to get them.

A spokesperson for MCSO said no further information will be released until the investigation is complete.

Chief Freind says they do have body camera footage of incident but won’t release it while the investigation is ongoing.

No charges have been filed.

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The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office says it’s now investigating an officer-involved shooting in Semmes.

We’re getting our first look at Johnny Bowman Jr., a local business owner who’s in the hospital recovering from five bullet wounds after police say he opened fire on officers inside his business in the middle of the night.

According to Semmes Police Chief Todd Freind, officers were on a routine patrol early Sunday at 3 a.m. when they noticed the door at Bowman’s Auto Air, here on Moffett Road, was wide open.

Freind said there was a report of a burglary in the area that same night, and officers were concerned that someone targeted the business, so officers made their way inside.

“But when they got in, they announced their intentions, started searching the place, and then they found the camper,” Freind said. “They were going to look in the camper on their way out, and they noticed movement inside, and they started announcing to whoever was inside the trailer to come out and that’s when Mr. Bowman opened the door and opened fire.”

Freind said officers then returned fire, hitting him numerous times. One SPD officer was grazed by a bullet across the lower back.

According to the Better Business Bureau’s website, this business has been around for 31 years and was founded by Bowman’s father.

Freind said sheriff’s deputies were called out to the scene after the gunfire to get Bowman to come out of the business after a two-hour standoff.

Investigators said Bowman was taken to the hospital. As of now, he’s not facing any charges.

The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office tells me we should have more information on this tomorrow (Jan. 6).

A close family-friend of Bowman told me he’s got a long road to recovery, and they’ll be in touch soon to share his side of the story.

Chief Freind told me they do have body camera footage of this but won’t release it while the investigation is on-going.