Jamar Thomas, a 26-year-old African American man from Pittsburgh, PA, tragically lost his life on May 10, 2015. He was fatally shot during a Mother's Day cookout in East Liberty, Pittsburgh. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. when Thomas was with his family, celebrating the occasion. The shooter, 19-year-old Brett Terry, was also present at the cookout. Witnesses reported that Terry and Thomas had an argument before Terry returned with a revolver and shot Thomas multiple times.
Thomas was killed on the spot, and another bullet grazed the abdomen of one of Thomas' juvenile relatives.
Following the shooting, Pittsburgh Police quickly apprehended Terry, who was found with his hands up by an officer patrolling the area. Terry reportedly told the officer that he had dropped the gun behind his car and expressed regret, saying he didn't want to shoot Thomas. Terry was charged with criminal homicide and other related charges. In March 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count each of third-degree murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and a firearms charge. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kelly Bigley sentenced Terry to 7 1/2 to 15 years in prison.
The loss of Jamar Thomas deeply affected his family and the community. His mother, Theresa Pritchard, expressed her grief and disbelief, describing the incident as a nightmare. The family continues to mourn the loss of Thomas, who was a father of seven. The case brought attention to the issue of gun violence and the need for community safety measures.
The tragic death of Jamar Thomas serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of senseless violence and the importance of addressing the root causes to prevent such incidents in the future.
