In the city of Las Vegas, on the evening of November 15, 2017, the life of 32-year-old Eric Thomas, an African-American male, was tragically cut short. A passerby discovered Thomas lying in the street near the intersection of B Street and Van Buren Avenue, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The Clark County coroner later officially ruled his death a homicide, confirming he had been shot in the head and back.
For more than a year, the investigation into who was responsible for Thomas's death continued. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department worked to piece together the events of that fatal night. While the initial stages of the investigation did not immediately identify any suspects, law enforcement remained persistent in their search for justice for Eric Thomas and his family. The case was a stark reminder of the violence that can abruptly shatter a life and leave a community searching for answers.
In March of 2019, a significant breakthrough occurred in the case when arrest warrants were issued for two individuals. The first suspect, 47-year-old Yolanda Washington, was taken into custody on March 25. A second suspect, 43-year-old Samuel Arthur Moore, was arrested on May 15 of the same year. Both were charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting death of Eric Thomas. Following their arrests, both Moore and Washington were held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.
