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Search ends for gunman who killed childhood friend and wounded officer
Murder suspect Brentson Bernard Thomas is behind bars at the Henry County Jail following a 9-day manhunt.
MACON, Ga. - After over a week on the run, law enforcement authorities have arrested a suspect accused of murdering one man and shooting a Henry County detention officer at an apartment complex.
Officials said the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Tax Force arrested 32-year-old Bretson Bernard Thomas at a hotel in Macon on Sunday afternoon. He made his first court appearance Monday morning.
US Marshals, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, Georgia State Patrol, and the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force located Thomas at a motel on Riverside Drive. Florida law enforcement officials, the Atlanta Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies also assisted the Henry County Sheriff's Office in the search.
"Sheriff Scandrett and I have been in contact ever since this happened, and there had been word earlier in the investigation, earlier in the manhunt that he might have been coming through Macon," Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said.
Thomas is charged with murder and felony aggravated assault in the deadly shooting at a McDonough apartment complex that claimed the life of 33-year-old Michael Brown III and left a Henry County Sheriff's Detention Officer critically wounded.
Henry County detention officer injured, man killed in apartment shooting
The shooting happened Friday, Nov. 4 after 1 p.m. at the Haddon Place Apartments near the 4000 block of Willow Lane. While many details about the shooting have not been released, investigators said one man was killed and a Henry County detention officer was critically injured but in stable condition. Police said both men were shot multiple times.
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Family speaks out as search continues for suspect in deadly shooting
The Henry County Sheriff's Office is still searching for Brentson Bernard Thomas, a man wanted in the shooting death of 33-year-old Michael Brown III. Brown's family says the two were childhood friends and aren't sure why Thomas turned on him.
The family said Michael Brown III lived in the apartment complex and worked there as a maintenance worker. They said that Brown knew the suspect but weren't friends.
"I don't understand how he went from ‘Hey Mike, when can we hang out?’ to shooting my child," Brown's mother Alicia Prado told FOX 5.
They said they learned apartment management warned Brown that Thomas had been acting strangely and seemed upset with Brown for no apparent reason.
"His supervisor said ‘Just watch out for dude, you know. He seems like he wants some problems with you.' So my son - I guess he went to him and was like 'What's going on?' and he shot him. He shot him and his best friend," Prado said.
The family said Brown and the Officer Williams are childhood friends.
The Prados are praying for the surviving victim.
3 arrested for hindering capture of gunman suspected in shooting Henry County detention officer
From left to right, Dimarie Ayanna Coulter, Joseph Kimber, and Lashonda Lay (Henry County Sheriff's Office)
Last week, officials said they arrested two people and are still searching for a third accused of helping Thomas elude capture.
Joseph Kimber and Lashonda Lay were both arrested for aiding and abetting in the Thomas' escape. A third woman, Dimarie Ayanna Coulter, is wanted on similar charges, but was not in custody.
"Anyone that is thought to be aiding and abetting any of these people that we are looking for, Mr. Brentson Bernard Thomas, or either, Ms. Dimarie Ayanna Coulter, if we believe you are aiding and abetting, you’re going to jail," said Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett.
Thomas had warrants out for his arrest for murder and two counts of aggravated assault. It is not known if he will receive additional charges.