In the late morning of February 8, 2023, the life of 32-year-old Jabarie Dwayne Thomas, a Black male known affectionately as 'Kool,' was tragically cut short. Mobile Police officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 200 block of East Rue Maison in Mobile, Alabama, around 11:44 a.m. following a report of a shooting. Inside, they discovered Thomas suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was quickly transported to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
An investigation into the homicide was launched by the Mobile Police Department. Their efforts led them to identify 20-year-old Tyquan Pettaway-Thomas as the suspect in the shooting. Less than a month later, on March 6, 2023, Pettaway-Thomas was taken into custody and formally charged with the murder of Jabarie Thomas. In addition to the murder charge, he also faced two counts of robbery. While an arrest has been made, authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive for the violent act that ended Thomas's life.
Jabarie Thomas was remembered by his loved ones as a loving father, son, and brother. He was employed with Tri-State Maritime Services. In the wake of his death, his family has worked to keep his memory alive. His mother, Priscilla Thomas, organized a balloon release and memorial dinner to celebrate what would have been his 33rd birthday. During the event, backpacks filled with school supplies were given to children in the community, and a scholarship was established in his name, a testament to the positive impact he had on those around him. The family continues to await the judicial process, with the expectation that it may be a lengthy road to a trial.
