On Christmas Eve of 2023, a violent altercation shattered the holiday atmosphere inside the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At approximately 4:34 PM, a fight erupted between two groups of people, escalating quickly and tragically into gunfire. Amid the chaos, three individuals were struck by bullets. When Colorado Springs Police Department officers responded to the scene, they found 18-year-old Teryus Rajova Nyshawn Thomas deceased from a gunshot wound.
Two other men were also injured in the shooting but were transported to local hospitals in stable condition.
Teryus Thomas, an African American male and a lifelong resident of Colorado Springs, was remembered by his family and friends as a kind and respectful young man with an infectious smile and a goofy, loving personality. A recent graduate of Mitchell High School's class of 2023, he had been the varsity football team captain and had aspirations of opening his own barbershop to support his mother. Tragically, at the time of his death, Teryus was on the brink of fatherhood. His girlfriend, Symone Normore, had discovered just two weeks prior to the fatal shooting that she was pregnant with their child. His family, including his parents, four siblings, and grandparents, were left to mourn a future that was violently cut short.
The investigation into the homicide was conducted by the Colorado Springs Police Department's Homicide Unit. Their efforts led to the identification of a suspect, and on January 9, 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for 22-year-old Josiah Brown, also of Colorado Springs. The following day, Brown was apprehended without incident by the Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force. He faces serious charges, including first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of first-degree assault. In court on July 16, 2024, Josiah Brown pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial is scheduled to commence on January 21, 2025. The death of Teryus Thomas has not only left a void in the lives of his loved ones but has also prompted community conversations and efforts aimed at curbing youth violence in the city.
