In the early morning hours of a Sunday in the Bronx, the life of 28-year-old Kevin Thomas was tragically cut short. Just before 2 a.m. on October 23, 2016, Thomas was found outside the Mott Haven Houses on East 143rd Street with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The male victim's sister later recalled the heartbreaking moments of that night, stating that her brother had called her shortly before the shooting, but she had been asleep and missed the call. The next call she received was from the police, informing her that her brother had been killed.
The investigation into the shooting soon revealed a shocking detail: one of the suspects was in a wheelchair. Police released surveillance images showing two men they believed were connected to the homicide. One of the men was depicted in a wheelchair and was identified by police as the suspected gunman who 'displayed a firearm and shot the victim multiple times.' The other man was considered an accomplice. The man in the wheelchair was described as a Black male wearing glasses and a black jacket, while the second suspect was described as a Black male in a brown jacket and a black baseball hat. A memorial for Thomas began to grow outside his home as his family and friends mourned their loss.
In the months following the shooting, a breakthrough was made in the case. On January 20, 2017, an arrest was made in the Bronx. The suspect, Daniel Rice, also known as 'Capone,' was taken into custody. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of a loaded Glock semi-automatic pistol that was not related to the shooting of Thomas. In October 2020, Daniel Rice, who was 43 at the time, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the death of Kevin Thomas. The investigation revealed that Rice, who uses a wheelchair, had fired a dozen bullets at Thomas during a dispute, striking him 13 times before fleeing the scene. In January 2021, Rice was sentenced to 15 years in prison, to be served concurrently with a five-year sentence for a separate weapon possession charge.
