Esteban Lowery's family is looking for answers a year after his death

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – In July 2023, a death was confirmed following a police-involved shooting on Russellville Road. Just one month later, the fatality was confirmed to be Esteban Lowery.

Kentucky State Police report that Lowery pointed a gun at Bowling Green police officer Matt Davis while Davis and a police-approved passenger responded to a disturbance complaint at America's Car-Mart on Russellville Road.

Officers said they found Lowery unconscious at the scene and administered life-saving measures, but did not provide any information on what caused Lowery to be unresponsive during the incident.

Since Esteban Lowery's death was reported, WBKO has repeatedly asked Kentucky State Police for details on the investigation. The department has provided limited answers, leaving Lowery's family heartbroken.

“There are always three sides to a story: their story, our story and the truth. We're just looking for the truth. What's going on?” Lowery's cousin Wayne Burton said. “Let's get the information we need so we can go through this process and start healing.”

National civil rights activist John Barnett has joined the family in their search for answers and urged the community to do the same in a press conference Tuesday.

“I'm asking all of you to stay calm but be strategic. We need justice for this. We won't stop until we get it. The numbers are going to go up and I have a creative way to get more people here. I'm just getting started.”

Barnett said he was told it would take three days for a police report on Lowery's death to be completed, and if that time frame is not met, he will take direct action.

“I'm happy to organize and mobilize demonstrations as long as you give us what we want. We want a meeting with the sheriff, wherever he is, the police chief, and we want the police report as soon as possible. Not only that, we want to know exactly what happened to him that day.”

Barnett said he will help Lowery's mother, Lori Lowery, find a lawyer in hopes of getting answers to further questions.

“Nobody wants to talk. Nobody wants to come out and say anything, but all they can say is the bad or the wrong that Esteban Lowry did,” Lori said. “Yes, we all have problems, we all made mistakes. But Esteban Lowry is and was still human. Give us justice, please give this family justice.”

Lowery's family told WBKO that his death certificate stated he died by strangulation. This information has not been confirmed by Kentucky State Police.

On Tuesday, WBKO received a statement from Kentucky State Police Headquarters regarding the Lowery investigation, which read:

“Timelines for completing investigations vary depending on the complexity of the case. As usual, KSP forwarded the case to the Warren County District Attorney for review on August 6. KSP cannot release any further information as it could impede the court process.”

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