A 23-year-old male resident of Cherokee, North Carolina, identified as Thomas Pheasant Jr., was the victim of a violent homicide that shook the local community in late December 2025. The events surrounding his death began to unfold after the Cherokee Indian Police Department received a vague tip regarding a shooting at an unknown location. Following this lead, investigators discovered that Pheasant had sustained multiple gunshot wounds inside a residence on Galimore Road on the Qualla Boundary. Authorities determined that the shooting likely occurred late on December 19 or early on December 20.
Instead of receiving emergency medical aid, the victim was removed from the scene of the crime. Police investigations revealed that his body had been transported from the home on Galimore Road and discarded in a remote area near Newfound Gap, a scenic location within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Law enforcement officers subsequently located and recovered his remains, confirming the fatal outcome of the assault. The case, which falls under both tribal and federal jurisdiction due to its occurrence on the reservation, drew immediate attention from the Cherokee Indian Police Department and federal authorities.
In the wake of the discovery, police quickly moved to apprehend those believed to be responsible for the killing and the subsequent cover-up. Timothy Jason McCoy, a 34-year-old suspect, was arrested and charged with first-degree homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault by pointing a gun. Investigators alleged that McCoy was the primary aggressor in the shooting.
Two additional individuals were implicated in the aftermath of the crime. Authorities arrested 36-year-old Derrick Jenkins and 35-year-old Victoria Thompson, charging both with accessory after the fact and obstruction of governmental functions. Police allege these two suspects assisted in concealing the crime or interfering with the investigation, specifically relating to the transport and disposal of the victim's body. As the investigation continued, officials urged anyone with further information to come forward, while the victim's family and the broader community began to mourn the sudden loss of the young man.
