By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com

With the dawn of a new semester, came the sadness of another tragedy for students at Bowie State University.  Keshon Nowlin, 19, was killed in a hit and run accident on Baltimore’s West Side on August 10.

Nowlin was fatally struck as he and three others were stopped to change a tire on the side of the road in the 1200 block of Hilton Parkway.  According to police reports, Nowlin and his friends were standing outside a Nissan Altima at 11:30 p.m. as a silver sedan traveling northbound struck them.  All four who were traveling in Nowlin’s party were struck and taken to the University of Maryland Hospital’s Shock Trauma Center. The three others survived their injuries.

Keshon Nowlin, 19 was killed in a hit and run accident on Baltimore’s West Side on August 10. (Courtesy Photo)

The only lead law enforcement authorities have in the case to this point is that a woman stopped at the scene vehicle briefly, but then left before police arrived.  The person of interest they are currently looking for is a woman who was seen driving a silver sedan.

“That vehicle did stop briefly after the crash, however, the driver got back into the vehicle and drove away from the scene before police arrived,”  said Jeremy Silbert of the Baltimore City Police Department.

Nowlin was a computer science major from Owings Mills, MD who made his mark on campus in a short time. Nowlin graduated from Newtown High School in Owings Mills, MD. The rising sophomore was an active member of the student body who had been elected as “Mr. Black and Gold” for the 2019-2020 school year according to an email sent from the office of University President Dr. Aminta Breaux. 

“I am deeply saddened to inform you of the untimely passing of one of our beloved students. Keshon Nowlin, a computer science major, died from his injuries in a car accident,” the email read.

“Such a sudden loss of a member of our community impacts us all,” the email says.

Classes at Maryland’s oldest Historically Black College begin on August 26 and  Bowie State’s Student Government Association is planning to host a remembrance event for Nowlin to open the fall semester.

“He was driven to achieve,” Dr. Breaux said. “He was so very, very bright. We’re just heartbroken that our community has lost a shining star.”

Nowlin’s high school friends and others from his home community started their coping process with by remembering him during an evening vigil at Newtown High.  They celebrate a very premature end to his promising life. He was revered as “an example of a young man who in such a short time has made an amazing impact” by one ofthe speakers during the event. 

 “He touched everybody. He was a great man,” his cousin Bernard said. “He was growing to be a great man; he already was; he already is. This is my little cousin and my mentor.”

Perhaps the most emotional moment took place when four of his childhood friends locked arms and attempted to console his mother by that they will always be by her side.