William Thomas was 19 when he was shot and killed on July 4, 2017, in the backyard of a residence at 739 Oak Street in Walnut Hills, Cincinnati. The shooting happened about 1:19 a.m., and Thomas was found with a gunshot wound to the back.

An 18-year-old, Quran Palmer, was arrested the next day at his Corryville residence and charged with murder. Court filings list aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and one count of having weapons while under disability; Palmer was also charged with a tinted window violation and held on a $1,000,000 bond. Authorities did not disclose a motive. Friends and family held a vigil for Thomas on July 7, 2017, at Oak Street and Stanton Avenue, and the community was asked to submit information or anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers.