Two suspects charged in connection with Chehaw shooting

ALBANY — Officials with the Albany Police Department have confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with a shooting at Chehaw Park early Saturday morning.

Christopher Sean Bowman was arrested Saturday, and Bruce Aaron Burkes arrested Tuesday, police officials say. According to Phyllis Banks, spokeswoman for the Albany Police Department, both are charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery and possession of a knife during a crime or attempted crime. Both suspects are students at Albany State University, police said.

Banks said the arrests stem from an incident around 3 a.m Saturday in a parking lot near Creekside Education Center which is located not far from the entrance at Chehaw Park, where victims Tevin Henry and Shontavious Armstrong each were shot in the leg by an unknown gunman. While being treated for their injuries at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, the pair told officers they’d been shot by the suspect after he’d asked them for cigarettes and they told him they didn’t have any.

Morgan Seegmueller, public relations coordinator at Chehaw, said Creekside Center is often rented out for parties, wedding receptions or other events. Seegmueller said Saturday’s rental was to a group affiliated with Albany State University, though she’s uncertain which particular one.

Banks said it’s too early in the investigation to know how involved Burkes and Bowman were in the shooting, even though they were present at the party. Banks said no gun has so far been discovered which can be tied to the shooting.

“We’re still interviewing people, sifting through the information and trying to find the key people,” Banks said. “The investigation remains very active with investigators anticipating further arrests.