Man on parole for deadly 2011 shooting arrested for allegedly assaulting his son
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police arrested a Woonsocket man, previously convicted of manslaughter in connection to a 2011 shooting, after he allegedly assaulted his son.
State Police said 35-year-old Jkiah Thomas was arrested on Tuesday, January 2, on a warrant from the West Warwick Police Department for domestic felony assault and a parole violation from an original charge of murder in connection to the death of Brandon Anderson.
He was arraigned at the Rhode Island State Police Lincoln Barracks where he was held without bail as a violator of his probation and is expected to return to court on January 16.
According to court documents, on Dec. 31, 2011, at approximately 4:07 p.m., West Warwick police responded to an apartment on Industrial Lane to investigate a report of gunshots coming from inside the apartment.
When officers entered the apartment, they found a man, identified as Anderson, lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to his head. He was taken to Kent County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators learned that Thomas fled the apartment where the shots were fired from and was later detained and questioned by police.
During questioning, Thomas admitted he “accidentally” shot Anderson, saying they were in Anderson’s bedroom getting ready to host a New Year’s Eve party and jokingly pointing guns at each other.
Thomas said he was holding a .22 caliber revolver in one hand and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the other, which was later found to be stolen. When Thomas raised both guns up, aiming at Anderson, the .22 caliber revolver fired, striking Anderson in the head.
Thomas later admitted to hiding the guns by a river near the apartment after the shooting.
During Thomas’ trial, court officials recalled a previous charge against him of felony assault with a dangerous weapon after he stabbed another man in the neck with an ice pick. He was sentenced to 15 years with two-and-a-half years to serve.
During his time in prison on unrelated charges, Thomas was also charged with several infractions for fighting other inmates, giving false information to corrections officers, making written threats and disobedience.
