Vice Mayor of Coral Springs, Florida, shot dead before congressional campaign

Police believe the incident may have been a domestic violence case, with the victim's husband as a suspect

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:12pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Nancy Metayer Bowen, the vice mayor of Coral Springs, Florida, has been found fatally shot in what police believe may have been a domestic violence incident. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, is a suspect and has been taken into custody after initially fleeing the scene. Bowen, 38, was an environmental scientist and the first Black woman and Haitian-American woman to serve as a Coral Springs commissioner. She had been planning to announce a run for Congress in the coming days.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence and its devastating impact on communities. Bowen was a rising political figure who was poised to make history as a Haitian-American woman running for Congress, making her death all the more impactful.

The details

According to reports, police responded to multiple gunshots at a residence in Coral Springs, where they found Bowen fatally shot. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, is the suspected shooter and was apprehended in a nearby city after initially fleeing the scene. A press conference on the apparent homicide is set to take place.

  • The incident occurred on April 1, 2026.
  • Bowen had been planning to announce her congressional campaign in the coming days.

The players

Nancy Metayer Bowen

The 38-year-old vice mayor of Coral Springs, Florida, who was an environmental scientist and the first Black woman and Haitian-American woman to serve as a Coral Springs commissioner. She was planning to announce a run for Congress.

Stephen Bowen

The husband of Nancy Metayer Bowen, who is a suspect in her fatal shooting and was taken into custody after initially fleeing the scene.

Jared Moskowitz

A Democratic U.S. Representative from Florida who was shocked by the news of Bowen's death, as he had just seen her on Saturday and she had been planning to announce her congressional campaign.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm in shock. I was just with her on Saturday. She just buried her brother. She was about to announce she was running for Congress. Nancy was one of the nicest people I worked with. Always fighting for her community, always pushing to help. She had such a future. This is terrible.”

— Jared Moskowitz, U.S. Representative

What’s next

A press conference on the apparent homicide is set to take place, where more details are expected to be released.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the ongoing issue of domestic violence and its devastating impact on communities, especially when it claims the life of a rising political figure like Nancy Metayer Bowen, who was poised to make history as a Haitian-American woman running for Congress.