St. Louis man acquitted in 3 murders found guilty of another

ST. LOUIS -- A man described by police as a violent drug dealer was found guilty of shooting two men, killing one, after being acquitted earlier this year of murdering three other people.

On Wednesday, a St. Louis Circuit Court jury convicted Adrian Bowman, 24, of University City, of murdering Daryl Spann, 37, of St. Louis, and assaulting Spann's friend on Oct. 28, 2000.

The friend, Joseph Evans, 41, was shot in the leg.

The men were shot in the street as they looked at the engine of a friend's car.

Three months ago, another jury acquitted Bowman and a co-defendant in a separate triple homicide that authorities said was drug-related.

In those 2001 killings on which Bowman was found innocent, victims were forced to lie on a kitchen floor and then shot in the head.

Three men were killed, including one who was found in the street, and a fourth was injured.

Police have called Bowman a violent drug dealer, and they have said they suspect him in three other killings since 1996.

Detective Byron Harrington testified that Inez Tanksley told him Bowman got into a dispute with Spann after Spann broke up a fight between her and another woman.

Spann, who had boxing experience, beat Bowman in the ensuing fistfight in August 2000, authorities said.

Police said Bowman later killed Spann.

However, Tanksley testified Wednesday that she was unable to recall what she had told the detective about the incident.

Under questioning by Bowman's lawyer, Robert Steele, Tanksley said she never identified Spann's killer by viewing a photo of the suspect. Harrington said police had not been able to locate Tanksley to show her the picture.

Police in New York City arrested Bowman in April 2001.

Bowman's sentencing for first-degree murder and first-degree assault was set for Aug. 22.