State News

Ex-boyfriend sought in detention officer's death

Authorities continue to search for Anthony Bowen, who has been charged with shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend, a New Hanover County detention officer.

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Anthony Bowen, suspect in New Hanover detention officer slaying
WILMINGTON, N.C. — Authorities continue to search for a man charged with shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend, a New Hanover County detention officer, a spokesman said Thursday.

Sheriff's 1st Sgt. Tim Fuss said officers had not found Anthony Antwand Bowen, 30, who is charged with first degree murder.

Officials say Tarica Ann Pulliam, 27, was shot several times outside her Wilmington home early Wednesday morning and was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where she died.

Pulliam had worked for the sheriff's office for two years. She leaves behind a 7-year-old daughter.

Public records show Bowen and Pulliam lived in the same apartment until April.

Authorities said Bowen is considered armed and dangerous. He was last seen driving a silver Ford Taurus with the license plate number VYE3086.

According to public records, on April 1, Pulliam said in an affidavit for a domestic violence protective order that Bowen choked her until she nearly lost consciousness and punched her in her left jaw.

"He then stated that he was going to finish what he started," she wrote in April. "He said that he was going to get his gun. As he reached in the closet, my mother knocked on the front door."

He was charged with assault on a female, second-degree kidnapping and assault by strangulation for the incident. He was also charged with first-degree kidnapping in a case involving another woman from an incident a few days later.

Pulliam's family members declined to speak to reporters. Bowen's mother said she didn't know where her son was.

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