Services set for Kettering shooting victim

A memorial service has been set for the Fairmont High School junior who died after a Kettering shooting last weekend.

The service for 16-year-old Ronnie Bowers is scheduled for Sunday in the school’s auditorium, 3301 Shroyer Road.

The event – which funeral home and school officials said will begin at 11 a.m. – will be held a week after Bowers was shot in the back of the head. He died on Tuesday, Kettering's first homicide since June 2015.

It has been a difficult time since last Sunday night, when Kettering police informed the family of the shooting, said Ryan Combs, Bowers’ stepfather.

But Bowers' mother, Jessica Combs, said a strong network of family friends "have done so much for us during this time" and helped them through the grieving process.

“My family and I – including my kids – have the largest friends support system that anyone has ever seen,” she said. “We have a huge friends support system — that I’m grateful for.”

People have shown up at their home offering condolences and helping decorate with balloons, flowers, letters and photographs.

“And that’s helped,” she said. “I love coming home to that.”

The service – which Routsong Funeral Home on Stroop Road is helping to organize — will likely include songs from a few friends, and speeches by selected friends, family and a pastor, Bowers’ mother said.

She also expressed gratitude to the staff at Kettering Medical Center, and the city’s paramedics and police.

“I’m very happy with the Kettering Police Department,” Jessica Combs said. “All of the detectives have been working around the clock.”

Bowers died from a gunshot wound to the head at Willowdale Avenue and Ackerman Boulevard, where Kettering Police Chief Chip Protsman said he was an “innocent bystander.”

Three juveniles — all Kettering students — are being detained by Montgomery County Juvenile Court on felonious assault charges. Because of Bowers' death, it is likely those charges will be upgraded.

A fourth suspect — 2016 Fairmont grad Miles Heizer, 18 — was jailed on felonious assault Monday morning but has been released from the Kettering jail.

Before the family moved to Kettering a few years ago, Bowers attend Mississinawa Valley schools in Darke County and Weisenborn Middle School in Huber Heights.

Aside from his mother and stepfather, he is survived by his father, Ronald (Amanda) Bowers, Jr.; siblings, Jesse Koch, Lance, Lacey and Lucas Bowers; maternal grandparents, Richard Glover and Donna Glover; paternal grandmother, Cindy Wolfe; step-grandparents, Robert and Julie Combs, Roger Hemmelgarn and Cyndy Konrady; his dog, Chunk; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

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