John Austin Shoaf, an 18-year-old male from High Point, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on December 24, 2019. The incident occurred on Christmas Eve when Shoaf was shot near the 3700 block of Eskdale Drive. He was transported to High Point Regional Hospital in a private vehicle around 12:30 a.m. and subsequently airlifted to another hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation revealed that Shoaf was shot during a robbery.
Nineteen-year-old Deonte Lance Thomas was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of robbery with a firearm in connection with Shoaf's death. According to police documents, Thomas turned himself in on Christmas Day. The arresting documents indicated that Thomas had taken more than $350 worth of marijuana from Shoaf and another individual at gunpoint before shooting Shoaf.
Shoaf's mother, Erin Shoaf, expressed her grief and called for an end to the senseless violence. She described her son as a wonderful and hardworking young man who was a caring and giving soul. The High Point Police Department continues to investigate the case, and anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of High Point.
