In the late hours of a Wednesday in Dora, Alabama, the life of 22-year-old Brandon Monroe Thomas was brought to a sudden and violent end. On August 26, 2020, while in the familiar comfort of his own kitchen cooking, multiple gunshots were fired into his home from outside. The vehicle from which the shots were fired then sped away into the night. Despite being grievously wounded, Thomas was able to awaken his parents and tell them he had been shot. He was rushed to Walker Baptist Medical Center in Jasper, but tragically, he was pronounced dead at 1:22 a.m.
The investigation into the shooting moved forward, and within weeks, law enforcement identified a prime suspect. Dalen Eliase Gaines, a 23-year-old from the nearby city of Jasper, who was known to be an acquaintance of Thomas and part of the same circle of friends, became the focus of the inquiry. On September 4, 2020, detectives from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office secured a warrant for his arrest on the charge of capital murder. The charge was elevated to a capital offense because the fatal shots were fired from outside the residence into the home.
A tip from a citizen led to Gaines's capture. On September 7, 2020, deputies with the Walker County Sheriff's Office received information on his whereabouts and located him at a location in west Jasper, taking him into custody without incident. Gaines was subsequently held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Following his arrest, the case proceeded to trial, where a Jefferson County jury considered the evidence presented. The jury found Dalen Eliase Gaines guilty of the capital murder of Brandon Monroe Thomas. His sentencing was scheduled for October 16th of the following year.
