Police seeking attempted murder suspect in Bowman Street incident

A probable cause affidavit released by the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office reveals new details in an incident on Bowman Street on November 5 that caused Riley High School and Studebaker Elementary to go on lockdown.

Around 11 a.m. November 5, South Bend Police were called to the 1600 block of Bowman Street for an unknown situation.

When officers arrived, they located one of the victims, Alicia Underwood.

Underwood told police "He just killed my uncle, and he's running away."

Officers then saw a man running west through the parking lot of Riley High School, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Officers attempted to follow the man but were unable to.

Underwood told police Emmanuel Ross Sr went to the Bowman Street address on a day pass from the DuComb Center to talk to her.

Ross was upset Underwood had a new boyfriend and began hitting her, she told police.

Underwood said Ross put his arm around her neck and choked her until she lost consciousness, according to court records.

Underwood's uncle, Rodger Wynn, was inside the house, came outside and tried to intervene. Ross then grabbed Wynn by the neck and caused him to lose consciousness, according to the probable cause affidavit.

When Wynn came to, he got Underwood in a vehicle and they attempted to drive away. Ross got into the vehicle, said "I'm going to kill everybody," and put his foot on the accelerator, reports said.

Wynn turned off the vehicle.

Underwood got out and Ross tried to follow her. Wynn grabbed Ross and Ross bit his ear, reports said.

Ross then ran off.

After giving their statements, both Wynn and Underwood received medical treatment.

The following day, officers spoke with Underwood and Wynn. Both reported having sore throats. Wynn had received four stitches in his ear.

Both Wynn and Underwood told police Ross had called them and threatened to kill them, according to the probable cause affidavit.

At DuComb, officers learned Ross was serving a sentence on work release and had been given a day pass on November 5 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. but never returned to the facility. He was considered an absconder.

Ross is facing six charges: attempted murder, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, two counts of strangulation, one count of battery with moderate bodily injury and one count of failure to return to lawful detention.

A no contact order was requested as a condition of bond.

A family friend of Underwood and Wynn, who asked not to be identified for his own safety, said the two victims are living in fear while Ross is on the loose.

He said Underwood thinks every black man she sees is Ross.

"She gets all scared and starts having anxiety attacks," the family friend said. 

The friend also said Ross is very troubled. 

"He's just a straight out woman beater," the friend said. "He doesn't care who he gets into a fight with."

The friend said both Wynn and Underwood are staying in undisclosed locations for the time being. He added that Wynn, the homeowner where the incident took place, is scared to return home until Ross is captured. 

"I'm hoping that he gets found and locked back up," the friend said. 

If you have any information about Ross' whereabouts, contact Detective Koski at the Special Victims Unit at 245-6600. If you see him, contact 9-1-1 immediately.