In Toledo’s fifth recent killing of a juvenile, family members Thursday grieved the death of a “strong little dude.”
Police arrested Tyanna Thomas, 14, and charged her with murder in the shooting death of her 15-year-old brother, Tommie Thomas. Officers found Tommie about 8:50 p.m. Wednesday in the 1000 block of Woodland Avenue.
The siblings were engaged in an argument that likely served as motive for the shooting. Investigators are not yet sure who owned the firearm, said police Lt. Joe Heffernan, spokesman for the department.
Tommie suffered a single shotgun wound to the left upper chest, according to the Lucas County Coroner’s Office. He was pronounced dead at ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
Robert Cavitt, the victim’s oldest brother, described him as a smart and outgoing leader. Tommie was a freshman at Scott High School, where he played football.
“Tommie also was active. He was funny. He liked to get into stuff, have a good time, joke. He had a dance he used to always do for us,” Mr. Cavitt said. “I miss everything about him.”
The brother and sister occasionally argued, Mr. Cavitt said, but he was in disbelief from Tommie’s death. Mr. Cavitt urged residents avoid poor choices in light of an increased number of homicides this year.
“Just watch what you do before you do it. There’s always a consequence after everything you do,” he said.
The Thomas youth appeared Thursday in Lucas County Juvenile Court before Judge Denise Navarre Cubbon. She entered a denial to the murder charge, and remained at the Juvenile Detention Center. A pretrial is set for Dec. 15.
Lori Olender, deputy chief of the juvenile division of the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, said she typically requests certification as an adult for fatal cases. The judge will ultimately decide jurisdiction.
Tyanna ended a term of probation in February for a felony robbery adjudicated through the juvenile court, Ms. Olender said.
In addition to Tommie’s homicide, Toledo police also reported the deaths of Ty-Ryne Hoskins, 3, on Oct. 29; Aaliyah Smith, 4, on Nov. 22; Lapercy Allen, 17, on Nov. 29; and Journi Johnson, 2, on Sunday. All were shot except for Aaliyah, who showed signs of blunt force trauma and malnourishment. Authorities are investigating Journi’s death as a homicide, but the coroner’s office has not yet ruled on it.
There have been 32 homicides this year in Toledo and 35 in the metro area. It’s the city’s largest number of killings since 39 recorded in 2012, according to Blade records.
Authorities ask anyone with information to call the Crime Stopper program at 419-255-1111. Callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward.
Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6095, or on Twitter @rdunnblade.
First Published December 9, 2016, 5:00 a.m.
