SOUTH BEND — A 33-year-old man died Wednesday evening after being shot three times as he attempted to enter his apartment.

Police say Courtney Rowell and his girlfriend were entering the apartment in the 1000 block on Lincoln Way West Wednesday morning when they were approached by a man who was walking north along Sherman Avenue.

Rowell told police the shooter approached him, called him a name and then began firing a handgun – shooting at least five times.

Rowell was hit twice in the chest and once in the head. Police originally thought his head was only grazed by one of the bullets, but the autopsy determined the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head, according to St. Joseph County Deputy Coroner Chuck Hurley.

Rowell was taken to Memorial Hospital, where he died Wednesday about 5:30 p.m.

Rowell's death has been ruled a homicide, and the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator James Taylor at (574) 235-5009, the South Bend Police Department at (574) 235-9361, or Crime Stoppers at (574) 288-STOP.