In the spring of 2019, a burst of violence at a local park in Lafayette, Louisiana, claimed the life of 54-year-old Michael Thomas. On a Tuesday evening in May, a shooting erupted at St. Anthony Park, leaving Thomas with fatal injuries from which he would later succumb. His death, which occurred on May 7, 2019, prompted an investigation by the Lafayette Police Department that quickly led to the apprehension of two suspects.
Following the shooting, authorities arrested two male teenagers,
a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old, in connection with the death of Michael Thomas. Both were taken into custody at their homes and subsequently booked into the Lafayette Juvenile Detention Center. The pair faced serious charges, with each being charged with second-degree murder. The investigation revealed additional alleged offenses, leading to further charges for the young suspects. The 16-year-old was also charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The 13-year-old faced charges of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a juvenile, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. It was also noted by police that the younger teen had previous interactions with law enforcement related to curfew violations in the months leading up to the fatal shooting.
