On a tragic night in Montgomery, Alabama, the life of 22-year-old male, Glenn Lamar Thomas, a rising rapper known as Doe B, was cut short. The evening of December 28, 2013, turned fatal when gunfire erupted inside the Centennial Hill Bar & Grill. Thomas was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The shooting also claimed the lives of 21-year-old Kimberle Briauna Johnson and 20-year-old Timnarius Q.
Hamilton, and left six other people wounded.
The violence that unfolded stemmed from a dispute that began earlier in the evening. An altercation occurred after Thomas reportedly declined to help a man named Darius Thomas get into the nightclub. Later, inside the crowded venue, the disagreement escalated. Witnesses reported seeing Darius Thomas and another man, Jason McWilliams, making confrontational gestures towards the rapper. The verbal sparring soon turned physical, leading to McWilliams allegedly firing shots erratically into the crowd while Darius Thomas also began shooting. In the ensuing chaos, multiple people were struck by gunfire, including the three who died from their injuries. The deadly incident prompted Montgomery's mayor to order the immediate closure of the nightclub, citing it as a threat to public safety.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement quickly identified suspects. Jason McWilliams, then 25, turned himself in to the police and was charged with two counts of capital murder. Shortly after, Darius Thomas, also 25, surrendered to authorities and faced the same charges. Both men were initially held without bond. A third individual was also later indicted in connection with the murders. The family of Glenn Thomas subsequently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the proprietors of the nightclub. The legal process moved forward, and one of the men responsible for the shooting was ultimately sentenced to 85 years in prison. The funeral for Glenn Thomas was held on January 4, 2014, where he was remembered as a talented artist with a promising future.
