A late-night dispute over a movie's ending tragically concluded in the death of 25-year-old Tiffany Thomas in New Orleans. On January 31, 2017, Thomas, a certified nursing assistant and mother of two, was fatally shot in a double shooting that also wounded another woman. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. in the 7100 block of West Laverne Street in New Orleans East.
The senseless violence stemmed from a bet Thomas and her friend had with Leo Dorsey, then 27, about the conclusion of
a crime thriller. When Dorsey lost the bet, an argument ensued, escalating to the point where he produced a firearm and shot both women. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other victim survived her injuries. The New Orleans Police Department quickly launched an investigation, which led them to identify Dorsey as the primary suspect. He was apprehended eight days later at a restaurant on Canal Street.
In November 2018, Leo Dorsey was convicted by a jury of the second-degree murder of Tiffany Thomas. In addition to the murder charge, he was also found guilty of attempted second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a result of the murder conviction, Dorsey received a mandatory life sentence in prison.
However, the legal proceedings did not end there. In a subsequent appeal, Dorsey’s convictions for second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder were overturned. The court's decision was based on the fact that the jury's verdict was not unanimous. Consequently, the case was sent back to the district court for further proceedings.
