Jul. 9—Prosecutors agreed to drop the capital murder charge against a Decatur man accused of a killing a 16-year-old during a fireworks dispute on July 4, 2020, after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of felon in possession of a firearm.
Shannon Doors Thomas Jr., 30, was accused of shooting Amari Elijah Deloney during a “fireworks war” — as described by a Decatur police detective at Thomas’ preliminary hearing — at East Acres, a public housing complex.
At the hearing, investigators said security video showed fireworks going off around a white Chevrolet Malibu as it drove through the area.
Deloney was in the backseat of the vehicle when he was shot in the head, according to a Decatur police affidavit. He was taken to Decatur Morgan Hospital and then to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Judge Shelly Waters on Monday ordered the capital murder case against Thomas to be dismissed without prejudice on request of the state. At the same time, Thomas entered a guilty plea to the charge of felon in possession of a firearm, waiving his right to have that charge considered by a grand jury.
“The capital murder was dismissed, and the charge was amended to essentially felon in possession of a firearm,” said Brian White, Thomas’ defense attorney.
Thomas was sentenced to 15 years in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections, with credit for time served in jail. Morgan County Jail records show Thomas has been there since July 9, 2020.
“Our case was built primarily on the statements of witnesses,” said Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson. “Those witnesses’ statements now differ from the statements they signed at the time of the shooting. That being the situation, we had to settle the case.”
According to Assistant District Attorney Joe Lewis, who argued Thomas should be sentenced as a habitual offender, Thomas was previously convicted of second-degree assault and possession of a firearm with altered identification.
The judgement order, signed by Waters, notes that Thomas requested to serve his sentence in Morgan County Jail, rather than prison.
“There is no objection to the same as long as the Morgan County Sheriff approves of the same,” she wrote.
Thomas was also ordered to pay $100 to the Alabama Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund and waived his right to appeal.
“It was just a situation where, in preparing for trial, I just believe witnesses defected and recollections weren’t squaring with what had been said to investigators when the case was first developing,” said White. “Sometimes those things become apparent as you’re getting into your preparation in earnest. The prosecution finds out things, the defense finds out things. It’s just one of those things that happens.”
— david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
