In the early morning hours of February 28, 2017, a senseless act of violence cut short the life of 35-year-old Jason Thomas, a White male, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Thomas and his wife were sitting in their vehicle in the parking lot of the West Apartments on North 50th Street, dealing with car trouble after 1 a.m. when the fatal encounter occurred.
A tenant from the apartment complex approached their vehicle and offered to help them jump-start the car, an offer the couple declined.
Standing nearby was 25-year-old Jeremy Palmer. After the tenant walked away, Palmer inquired if the couple had been rude. Based on the tenant's response, Palmer walked over to the driver's side of the Thomas's vehicle, opened the door, and fired a single shot, striking Jason Thomas in the face. His wife, who was in the vehicle with him, was unharmed. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, Jeremy Palmer fled the area on foot, sparking a manhunt by the Fort Smith Police Department. Investigators identified Palmer as the suspect, and his photo was circulated. Several hours later, a resident at the Allied Gardens Estate on Johnson Street recognized Palmer from his wanted picture on Facebook as he was knocking on apartment doors and wandering the complex. The resident promptly alerted the police.
Officers responded to the scene and arrested Palmer without incident. At the time of his arrest, no weapon was found on his person. However, a subsequent investigation led police to a revolver hidden behind a rock in the basement of a nearby residence, which they believed to be the murder weapon. Palmer was taken to the Sebastian County Detention Center and later faced charges of first-degree murder, terroristic act, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
