More than three months after a Sweetwater County sheriff's deputy fatally shot an armed 18-year-old during a standoff at a Rock Springs apartment complex, an independent investigation has concluded the deputy acted lawfully and will not face criminal charges.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the April 20 shooting at the Sweetwater Heights apartment complex. Carbon County Attorney Sarah Chavez Harkins served as a special prosecutor to determine whether Deputy Nathaniel Hull's actions violated Wyoming or federal law.
In a written determination dated July 31, Harkins concluded Hull's use of deadly force was both constitutionally and statutorily justified, bringing the criminal review to a close.
Hit-And-Run
The confrontation began around 4:10 a.m. April 20, when officers with the Rock Springs Police Department responded to a reported hit-and-run in the parking lot of the Sweetwater Heights apartment complex at 2152 Century Blvd.
As officers responded, dispatchers received information that 18-year-old Zander Bowlin, an Arkansas native living in Rock Springs, had shot himself, was suicidal, possessed multiple firearms and might shoot responding officers.
The DCI investigation found officers entered Bowlin's upstairs apartment to render aid but instead found him in a bedroom holding a handgun to his neck.
Investigators said officers repeatedly ordered Bowlin to drop the gun before withdrawing from the apartment and beginning to evacuate neighboring residents.
Deputy Hull arrived to assist and took a position outside the apartment building, where he made verbal contact with Bowlin on an outer balcony, they said.
The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office said Bowlin repeatedly moved between the apartment and the balcony carrying different firearms and pointed them at Hull several times.
Investigators found Hull stayed behind cover and withheld fire during each of those encounters.
Confrontation Escalates
The confrontation escalated when Bowlin emerged carrying an AR-platform rifle.
Investigators said Bowlin turned toward the area where patrol vehicles, responding officers and residents evacuating the apartment building were located before lowering the rifle in that direction.
Hull again ordered Bowlin to drop the weapon.
According to investigators, Bowlin then turned the rifle toward Hull.
Hull fired three rounds from his duty pistol, striking Bowlin and ending the confrontation.
Law enforcement officers maintained cover while a tactical team entered the apartment and secured the scene.
Tactical officers found four firearms on Bowlin or within his immediate area — two handguns tucked into his waistband, another handgun beside him and the AR-platform rifle resting along the balcony railing. Multiple firearms, including the rifle, were loaded.
Bowlin was transported to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County before he was flown to a medical facility in Salt Lake City.
He died April 25 from injuries sustained in the shooting.
Why No Charges?
In her written determination, Harkins concluded Bowlin's actions created "a direct and immediate threat" to Hull, other responding officers and members of the public.
She determined Hull reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury and that he used only the amount of force necessary to stop the threat.
Harkins also found no evidence Hull acted with "ill will, malicious intent, or any unlawful purpose."
Based on those findings, she declined to pursue criminal charges.
Harkins did not respond to Cowboy State Daily's request for a copy of her written final determination.
What Witnesses Saw
When the shooting happened in April, authorities released few details because DCI's investigation had just begun.
Neighbors, however, described a chaotic scene.
Varick Dittman told Cowboy State Daily he awoke after hearing what sounded like gunfire and later saw officers surrounding the apartment complex.
"I heard at least one gunshot," Dittman said at the time.
Another resident, Cayden Aragon, said officers evacuated the third floor while tactical officers and drones converged on the apartment complex. After the incident, he discovered his truck had been struck during the response.
At the time, DCI Commander Ryan Cox said many questions about the shooting could not be answered while investigators continued gathering evidence.
Cowboy State Daily also submitted a Wyoming Public Records Act request to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation seeking the investigative file, including the investigative report, witness interviews, dispatch communications, body-camera footage and other records related to the shooting.
Sheriff Responds
Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Fischer said independent review is appropriate whenever law enforcement uses deadly force.
"Public scrutiny is appropriate whenever a law enforcement officer uses deadly force," Fischer said. "To ensure that scrutiny, DCI investigated this incident, and an outside prosecutor reviewed the evidence. The complete record shows that Deputy Hull took cover, communicated what he was observing, repeatedly ordered Bowlin to drop his weapons, and fired only after Bowlin lowered a rifle toward officers and residents and then turned it toward Deputy Hull."
Fischer said the findings confirmed Hull acted lawfully while emphasizing the human cost of the incident.
"Two things can be true at the same time: any loss of human life is tragic, and we are also profoundly grateful that no one else was injured," Fischer said. "There are moments in this profession when every available option carries grave consequences, yet an officer must still make a decision in seconds."
Kolby Fedore can be reached at kolby@cowboystatedaily.com.
