(L.A.) Michael Thomas, 61, Died in a Hospital
Case Number: 2020-05149
Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 61-year-old Black male that occurred in a hospital.
The coroner’s office has identified the man as Michael Thomas.
Manner of Death: Homicide
Cause of Death: Gunshot Wound of Chest
RIP MICHAEL THOMAS (August 25, 1958 – June 11, 2020)
Formal pronouncement of death was made on Thursday at 5:52 a.m.
Incident Location: Residence
606 W Ave H12, Lancaster, CA 93534
Place of Death: Antelope Valley Medical Center
1600 W Ave J , Lancaster, CA 93534
The decedent was fatally shot by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy Ty Shelton.
LASD NARRATIVE
On June 11, 2020, at approximately 5:52 am, Lancaster Station deputies received a radio call regarding domestic violence in progress. A 9-1-1 call had been received at the station and fighting and screaming could be heard over an open telephone line, from both a man and a woman.
Deputies arrived on scene and as they walked to the front door, they could hear screaming and yelling coming from inside the location. After they knocked on the front door, 61 year-old Michael Thomas opened the interior front door but refused to open the exterior security screen door.
Thomas was extremely agitated and refused to open the door. The female victim walked toward the deputies at the front door, but Thomas blocked the path and assaulted her. Deputies pulled on the screen door until it opened and entered the location to prevent the suspect from further assaulting the victim.
Upon entering the residence, Deputies came in contact with the suspect and attempted to detain him. The suspect refused verbal commands to comply, and deputies attempted to control the suspect’s arms in an effort to get him handcuffed. The suspect struggled with Deputies who tried to handcuff him. During the struggle, Michael Thomas reached and grabbed hold of a deputy’s firearm, in the holster. Another deputy recognized that the suspect had grabbed the pistol and a Deputy Involved Shooting (DIS) occurred. The suspect was struck by gunfire and was detained by deputies.
Deputies immediately provided medical care to the suspect until Los Angeles County Fire Department Paramedics arrived and continued to provide life-saving measures.
The suspect was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead. It was determined that the victim had called 9-1-1 because the suspect had assaulted her. Additionally, narcotics were recovered from the suspect. An autopsy was conducted by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner – Coroner, which determined that Michael Thomas died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the chest. The toxicology report showed that Thomas was positive for cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine.
No deputies were injured during the incident.
Ty Shelton = Ty A Shelton = Ty Anthony Shelton