In the early morning hours of November 10, 2019, the life of 26-year-old Mandrale Alexander Henry was tragically cut short in a Stillwater, Oklahoma home. An argument between Henry and his girlfriend, Brittany Gentzler, over messages she found on his cell phone escalated, drawing the attention of others in the household. One of these individuals was 17-year-old Coryon Lauray Maryell Thomas, whom Gentzler considered to be like a son to her.
As the argument between Henry and Gentzler grew
louder, Thomas retrieved a 20-gauge shotgun. He then entered the hallway near the couple's bedroom. Inside the room, Henry was kneeling on the floor in front of Gentzler, who was sitting on the edge of their bed with their eight-month-old baby nearby. Thomas, standing in the doorway, fired a single shot that struck Henry in the right side of his back.
Following the shooting, a frantic scene unfolded as Gentzler called 911, running in circles and screaming while an operator instructed her on how to perform CPR. Henry was still breathing but succumbed to his injuries after being transported to Stillwater Medical Center. Thomas initially took the shotgun outside to keep it away from the children before returning to assist Gentzler. He later told police that he knew Henry had guns and was unsure if he had one hidden under the bed. Thomas also mentioned hearing from his siblings that Henry had been physically abusive towards Gentzler in the past, though he had never witnessed it himself.
Coryon Lauray Maryell Thomas, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was charged as an adult with first-degree murder. He was held without bail in a juvenile facility. In March 2021, then 19-year-old Thomas pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter.
