Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto said deputies tracked Thomas down to his apartment hours after he killed two of his former co-workers, identified by Cvitanovich as Nakie James Brown, 48, and Dustin Parrie Jr. , 20, at FMT Shipyard.
It has not been determined why Thomas was shot at the shipyard or why he shot the two people.
Thomas was tracked to the apartment after deputies received information about a vehicle he was traveling in. The woman, who was unaware of the shooting, was later stopped by deputies who spotted the vehicle.
“He said that he just picked him up and took him to an apartment here,” said Lopinto during a press conference at the complex.
When Lopinto saw the deputies, Tomas ran away and opened fire on them, and several deputies returned fire. Tomas was declared dead at the scene.
No one else was injured in the shipyard or during the exchange of fire with the suspect, although the bullets hit the apartments. “We checked those apartments. No one else was hurt,” said Lopinto.
