Aspiring actor Fredrick Jay Bowdy commits suicide on Facebook Live just days after being arrested on allegations of sexual assault; Friends say he may have been depressed
Frederick Jay Bowdy, an aspiring actor from Texas, commits suicide on Facebook Live
Frederick Jay Bowdy, 33, shot himself in a parked car Monday, in North Hollywood, Calif
Four days earlier the Texas transplant had been arrested in Santa Clarita on suspicion of sexual assault
He posted bail $100,000 bail on Friday, but was not formally charged
Up and coming actor Fredrick Jay Bowdy shot himself in the head while streaming on Facebook Live, Jan, 23, 2017
Fredrick Jay Bowdy from Texas killed himself Monday in North Hollywood while broadcasting on Facebook’s livestream, and authorities said the suicide occurred days after he was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.
Bowdy who was identified by the coroner’s office told followers watching via livestream that he was going to commit suicide, prompting an out-of-state family member to call the Los Angeles Police Department about 5:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Tiffany Ljubetic.
Police tried to reach Bowdy, who was in a car near Cumpston Street and Fulcher Avenue, but he killed himself before officers made contact with him, Ljubetic said.
Bowdy, 33, shot himself in the head about an hour after the concerned family members contacted the LAPD saying he was distraught and threatening to take his own life, law enforcement sources said.
A kaleidoscope of Jay Bowdy ‘s life. He was sitting in his car when he took his own life. A few days earlier he had been arrested on allegations of sexual abuse
Users on Facebook who viewed the video expressed shock and sadness, and some wondered if it was a hoax since Bowdy was an actor. The video was later removed by Facebook, according to the company.
Officers were able to track Bowdy down to a car parked on a street near the North Hollywood Arts District.
said Bowdy’s death was being investigated as a possible suicide: “The gentleman may have shot himself as officers were approaching the vehicle,”Craig Harvey, a spokesman with the LA Coroner’s office said.
Bowdy was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:33 a.m., Harvey said.
One Facebook user who saw the livestream said in a comment that it made him cry.
An Instagram user said she saw it as well and urged others to “always be a shoulder” for people in need.
Facebook has removed the video from Bowdy’s profile.
In prior videos posted on his profile, Bowdy discussed his acting career and being a father of six kids. He also talked about overcoming the knee injuries that short-circuited his dreams of a becoming a professional basketball player,
Jay Bowdy on his wedding day
Jay Bowdy was a father of six
A law enforcement source said Bowdy had a recent prior arrest for a “domestic disturbance” in Santa Clarita, Calif.
According to the Los Angeles Times, he was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of sexual assault. He was released Friday on $100,000 bail. He was not formally charged.
Originally from Texas, Bowdy scored a handful of film and TV roles. He was the lead actor in 2016’s “Prepper,” an independent movie about a suburban high school teacher dealing with societal collapse.
He played basketball in college and earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Texas in Arlington, according to his acting profile on IMDB.com.
He also worked at The Hollywood Men, an exotic dance revue in Los Angeles, performing under the name “Houston.”
“The Hollywood Men family lost a true friend yesterday morning. Our beloved Houston lost a battle to his demons and is now with us no more,” the group said in a statement.
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