In the quiet city of Lynchburg, Virginia, the life of 62-year-old Carroll F. Mack was tragically cut short on a Friday afternoon in February. A native of Lynchburg, born on August 30, 1961, Mack was a graduate of Heritage High School's class of 1979. Following his education, he served his country with honor in the United States Marine Corps for three years before returning to his hometown. He would go on to hold various jobs before finding his calling as an owner/operator for Allied Cab.
On February 9, 2024, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the sound of gunfire shattered the afternoon calm in the 2600 block of Morson Street. When Lynchburg Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Carroll Mack suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical aid was rendered at the scene by both police and Lynchburg Fire Department medics before he was rushed to Lynchburg General Hospital. Despite their efforts, Mack succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the homicide quickly pointed to a suspect, described by witnesses as a slender Black male wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans. This led investigators to 34-year-old Dabney Thomas Jr., also of Lynchburg. Surveillance footage from a neighbor's camera captured the chilling moments leading up to the fatal encounter. The video showed Mack's cab pulling up, followed by Mack repeatedly asking Thomas to exit the vehicle and wishing him a good day. The situation escalated, with Mack audibly telling Thomas to put a gun away before Thomas pushed him to the ground. Though the final moments were out of the camera's view, a gunshot was heard shortly after. Witnesses reported seeing Thomas leaving the area with a duffel bag.
Dabney Thomas Jr. was apprehended by police at a gas station on Wards Road. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, reckless handling of a firearm, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharging a firearm within the city limits. In a subsequent court appearance, Thomas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony as part of a plea agreement, which resulted in two other charges being dropped. He is facing up to 43 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced in December. Thomas is currently being held without bond at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.
