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Written by: E. George
Published January 15, 2025 @ 1:58 PM ET
WALTON COUNTY, Ga. – According to a report from the Monroe Police Department, authorities arrested a man while responding to a call regarding a gunshot wound victim at a 4th Street residence on November 30, 2024. Matthew R. Rowe faces charges of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm, obstruction of law enforcement officers, and two counts of murder.
The 911 caller reported hearing multiple gunshots; he said he believed his roommate had shot his girlfriend. Officers found the caller wrapped in a blanket, standing in the middle of the road.
One officer noted observing the suspect in the front window of the home. The officer said Rowe ignored their verbal commands to show his hands and began screaming and thrashing back and forth.
Rowe started beating the window with his hands until it shattered and then jumped through it, sustaining several lacerations. The officers took cover behind a patrol vehicle with their weapons drawn.
Rowe, naked from the waist down, jumped into the side of the patrol car and then ran over to the officers. They described him as “acting in an extreme[ly] wild and manic state.”
One officer pointed a gun at the suspect and ordered him to the ground. They were uncertain whether he possessed a weapon inside his sweatshirt, and one officer drew their Taser as well.
They ordered him onto his belly on the ground in front of the residence. As officers attempted to enter the home, Rowe began yelling and started to stand up, so an officer Tased him to gain compliance before placing him in handcuffs behind his back.
They noted that he was “covered in blood” and was injured from the window glass. They placed Rowe into a patrol vehicle and transported him to Piedmont Walton for evaluation and treatment.
A sweep of the residence found the female victim, deceased from “several gunshot wounds.” The Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, and the local coroner were contacted.
The victim has been identified as Allison Kaspor, 20.
A motive has not been released at this time.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On 11/30/2024 at approximately 0508 hours I responded to [100 BLOCK] 4th Street, in reference to a report of a gunshot wound. It was advised by dispatch, that the complainant [WITNESS #1] stated that he believed that his roommate had shot his girlfriend [REDACTED]; with approximately three to four gunshots having been heard.
Upon arrival, I observed a male subject (Complainant, [WITNESS #1]) standing in the roadway, near [100 BLOCK] 4th Street with a blanket wrapped around him. I exited my patrol vehicle and focused my attention on the residence located at [100 BLOCK] 4th Street. I was standing at the front righthand corner of the residence with a clear view of a front window of the residence; I had my department issued Glock 17 in hand. While watching the house, I observed a male subject/suspect (Matthew Rowe) appear in the front window. I gave loud verbal commands to see his hands, and he began screaming and thrashing back and forth, then started beating the window with his hands. This action caused the window to break. Due to him moving rapidly, I was unable to determine if he had a firearm of other weapon in his hands. Officer Potts had arrived on scene at approximately the same time as I and was retrieving his department issued rifle from this patrol vehicle. At this point, he and I took cover at the rear of his patrol vehicle; Officers’ Cohen and Casper arrived on scene.
While we were at the rear of the patrol vehicle, a loud glass breaking noise could be heard; it was Mr. Rowe jumping out of the residence, though the window. Mr. Rowe was nude from the waist down, and was acting in an extreme wild and manic state. Mr. Rowe jumped into the side Officer Potts’ patrol vehicle. then ran to the rear were we were standing. I pointed my Glock at Mr. Rowe and gave verbal commands for him to get on the ground. At this point, I did not observed Mr. Rowe to have a weapon in his hands, however it was still unclear if his possessed one in the sweatshirt he was wearing. Due to the situation being tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving, I drew my taser with my support side hand and held him at taser and gunpoint. Mr. Rowe was on the ground in front of the residence lying his belly.
Officers were attempting to make entry into the residence, in order to conduct a protective sweep to check for injured victims; at this point, Mr. Rowe yelled and attempted to get up from the ground, at which point I fired my department issued taser 7 (serial #X4001C16F) firing the 12 degree cartridge (serial #X49251AT4), causing Neuromuscular Incapacitation (NMI), gaining compliance. Mr. Rowe was then placed into handcuffs, behind his back by Officer O’Bannon. Mr. Rowe was covered in blood, and had several lacerations on his legs and arms, which he sustained from jumping through the window. Officers’ Casper, Cohen and Potts cleared the residence, which was clear of any other active threats; however the sweep resulted in locating the victim, [REDACTED] deceased from several gunshot wounds. I did not observe Ms. [REDACTED] or the area of the residence in which she was located.
I contacted Lt. Harrison and CID over the phone and advised them of the incident. Fire and EMS responded to the scene and check the victim [REDACTED] and made the determination to contact the coroner. Mr. Rowe was secured in the backseat of Officer Potts’ patrol vehicle and was transported to Piedmont Walton for treatment. A crime scene was set up using crime scene tap, and a crime scene log was started and maintained by Officer Cohen while on scene. The log was turned over to Cpl. Jones later when night shift units left the scene. My spent taser cartridge and prongs were collected on scene and will be placed into evidence at the Monroe Police Department. A use of force report was completed and submitted, in accordance with the Monroe Police Department policy.
[End of Narrative]