Brandon Thomas, a 30-year-old man from Wilkes-Barre, PA, tragically lost his life on September 12, 2020, in Pittston, PA. He was helping his girlfriend, Samantha Smart, unload salon supplies from her car when he was shot multiple times by Joey Bernard Graves Jr., 33, using an AK-style rifle. Graves was upset that Thomas was at his residence and became jealous.
Thomas was found face down in a pile of yard waste next to a basement door.
Graves was arrested at the scene and admitted to the shooting, saying, "I shot him. I think he is dead, please don’t kill me". During the investigation, Graves claimed that Thomas was helping Smart with items for her new hair salon. Graves was later diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder and schizophrenia, and it was revealed that he had been self-medicating with alcohol and cocaine instead of taking prescribed medications.
In January 2022, Graves pled guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced to 17 to 40 years in state prison. The court accepted a plea deal, and Graves will be sentenced at a later date. Thomas' mother, Priscilla Thomas, forgave Graves during the sentencing hearing, expressing the impact of her son's loss on her family.
The case has deeply affected the community, with many remembering Thomas as a selfless and giving person who was always willing to help others. His mother described him as someone who would offer rides to strangers and help anyone in need. The loss of Brandon Thomas has left a lasting impact on his family and friends, who continue to seek justice for his senseless death.
