In the late hours of a Saturday in Thomaston, Georgia, a party that began with drinks and camaraderie took a tragic and violent turn, ending the life of 27-year-old Joseph Homman. On the evening of May 23, 2020, police were called to a residence in the 200 block of 6th Avenue following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim scene in the front yard. Homman was on the ground with a gunshot wound to his chest, and a woman had been shot in the leg. Officers and a Upson County sheriff's deputy immediately began rendering aid, performing CPR on Homman in a desperate attempt to save him.
As the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that a third victim, another woman, had made her own way to the emergency room with a gunshot wound to her arm. The festive atmosphere of the party had apparently soured when an argument broke out between Homman and two other men, Corey Thomas and Codey Piper. The verbal altercation escalated into a physical fight, culminating in Thomas allegedly firing several rounds. The shots struck Homman and the two women, throwing the gathering into chaos.
All three victims were transported to Upson Regional Medical Center for treatment, but Homman's injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. In the immediate aftermath, both Corey Thomas and Codey Piper were taken into custody. However, after a more thorough investigation, detectives released Piper, and he currently faces no charges in connection with the incident.
Corey Thomas, however, was charged with a litany of serious offenses, including malice murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was subsequently booked into the Upson County Jail. Authorities indicated that additional charges could be pending as the investigation continued.
