On a Friday evening in Great Bend, Kansas, the life of 39-year-old Hispanic male Jeremy Alan Saldana was cut short in a fatal shooting on September 11, 2015. The incident occurred at a residence where Saldana was living. The man responsible for his death was Freddie Alec Thomas, a former correctional officer who was 49 at the time.
The confrontation stemmed from a complicated romantic situation. Thomas was dating Saldana's ex-girlfriend and had accompanied her to the Great Bend home of her daughter and son-in-law. Saldana also happened to be residing at this same address, a fact unknown to Thomas. When Saldana arrived at the home, a physical altercation broke out between the two men in the front yard. During the struggle, Thomas, who was armed, shot the unarmed Saldana three times. Emergency medical responders were unable to save him.
Authorities arrested Thomas at the scene, and he was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. In the ensuing legal battle, Thomas claimed he acted in self-defense. Initially, a district judge agreed with this claim and granted him immunity from prosecution. However, this decision was later reversed by the Kansas Court of Appeals, and the case was sent back for trial.
Nearly seven years after the shooting, a jury trial was held. In August 2022, Thomas was ultimately convicted of voluntary manslaughter for the death of Jeremy Alan Saldana.
