In the early morning hours of March 10, 2019, the life of 24-year-old Basha Thomas was tragically cut short in West Memphis, Arkansas. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Thomas was discovered inside his vehicle at the Imperial Homes apartment complex, having been shot multiple times. West Memphis police officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 2900 block of East Jackson Avenue around 6 a.m.
and found him deceased at the scene.
The devastating loss was compounded for his family, as it came less than a year after his 15-year-old sister, Jordyne Craig, was also killed by gun violence in the same city. Friends and family remembered Basha Thomas as a calm and well-regarded individual, making his violent death all the more shocking to the community. The search for answers and justice for Thomas's death became a focus for both his grieving family and law enforcement.
An investigation into the shooting led authorities to a suspect. On May 7, 2019, 27-year-old Marcello Banks was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee, by the U.S. Marshals East Arkansas Fugitive Task Force. Following his apprehension, Banks was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Basha Thomas. He was slated for extradition to Crittenden County to face the charges. While an arrest was made, a motive for the shooting has not been publicly disclosed by authorities.
