Thornton Jack Bivens, a 60-year-old man from Houston, Texas, was tragically shot and killed on April 17, 2017. The incident occurred at his place of work, where he was fatally shot by Russell Cormier, a 53-year-old man who was later identified as the suspect. Cormier was involved in a violent crime spree that spanned over two days, during which he also killed his estranged wife, Fannie McWhite, and shot his neighbor, Roshal Barley.
Cormier's crime spree began on the morning of April 17,
when he allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife, Fannie McWhite, at her home in northeast Houston. After fleeing the scene in a black Toyota Tundra pickup, Cormier set his trailer on fire and then drove to Bivens' workplace. He waited for Bivens to arrive and shot him as he was getting out of his vehicle. Later that day, Cormier confronted his neighbor, Roshal Barley, and shot him multiple times, although Barley survived the attack.
The manhunt for Cormier lasted several days, during which he was considered extremely dangerous. On April 21, 2017, Cormier was found sleeping under a park slide and was arrested by the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force. He was charged with two counts of murder and additional charges of arson and aggravated assault. Cormier confessed to the killings and the shooting of his neighbor.
The tragic deaths of Thornton Jack Bivens and Fannie McWhite, along with the shooting of Roshal Barley, highlight the devastating impact of Cormier's violent actions. The case brought attention to the importance of swift law enforcement response and community safety measures in dealing with such dangerous individuals.
