In the autumn of 2015, a gathering at a home on Ontario Center Road in Ontario, New York, took a tragic and violent turn, ending the life of 34-year-old Brett S. Brookover. On October 5, 2015, Brookover, a male, was a guest at the residence of Lee Thomas when an argument erupted among the individuals present. The dispute reportedly involved another guest, Marcus Stock, and centered around drugs and a female guest, with racial tensions further fueling the conflict.
The verbal altercation
escalated dramatically when Lee Thomas, then 34, retrieved a shotgun and opened fire. Brookover was shot multiple times and was later found deceased in the driveway of the home. The initial call to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office reported a home invasion, but it was quickly determined that the people involved knew each other and had been inside the residence prior to the shooting.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, Lee Thomas was arrested and faced significant legal consequences for his actions. He was charged with second-degree murder for the death of Brett Brookover and second-degree attempted murder for allegedly shooting at Marcus Stock, who survived the incident. Additionally, Thomas was charged with first-degree criminal use of a firearm and was held without bail in the Wayne County Jail.
During his trial, Lee Thomas claimed self-defense, a narrative that was contested by the prosecution. Evidence presented in court, including the location of Brookover's body and bloodstains found near a vehicle some distance from the house, contradicted Thomas's account of the events. In July 2016, a jury convicted Lee Thomas of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, ultimately holding him responsible for the death of Brett Brookover.
