Independence Township man killed in shooting
An Independence Township man was shot and killed Wednesday night, according to the Washington County coroner.
Joshua Ryan Bowland, 31, was pronounced dead at 156 Camp Ground Road, Independence Township, at 11:29 p.m. The coroner’s office said the cause of death was a gunshot wound, and it was ruled a homicide.
According to the coroner’s office, Bowland was shot by his mother’s significant other, Arnold Lee Webster, 64, also of 156 Camp Ground Road. The shooting occurred about 8:45 p.m.
Webster was arrested at the scene and arraigned on a charge of possession of a prohibited offensive weapon because of a sawed-off shotgun found at the home.
He was released Thursday from Washington County jail on a $5,000 unsecured bond set by District Judge Robert Redlinger.
According to the criminal complaint, Webster shot Bowland in the chest with a rifle-style firearm. Police said Bowland died of a single gunshot wound.
Bowland’s mother told police there were multiple firearms in the house. Police executed a search warrant shortly after midnight Thursday.
The shotgun was found under a mattress in Webster’s bedroom. Webster claimed ownership of the gun and was taken into custody, police said.