Michael Wayne Thomas

Michael Wayne Thomas was a well-known and beloved figure in his Baton Rouge, Louisiana, community. The 51-year-old man, who was the youngest of six siblings and a father to a son, was known by neighbors as the "neighborhood comedian." He had a nickname for everyone, calling them "Captain," and they called him "Captain" in return. A longtime neighbor recalled that Thomas was always willing to help, whether it was cutting grass for the elderly or giving haircuts. "If he could help you, he would," the neighbor said.

Just after midnight on April 22, 2024, Thomas was caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between two other men outside a Kangaroo Express convenience store on Scotland Avenue. According to Baton Rouge police, Thomas was an innocent bystander who tried to take cover behind a parked vehicle when the shooting erupted. As one of the shooters fled the scene, he turned his weapon on Thomas, shooting him in the back. Thomas was rushed to Our Lady of Lake Hospital, but he did not survive his injuries.

The violence of that night spread beyond the convenience store parking lot. A stray bullet from the shootout pierced the wall of a nearby apartment complex on Bradfield Avenue. It struck a 51-year-old woman in the back as she lay sleeping in bed with her twin children. The children were not harmed, and the woman was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators determined the incident began when an unidentified person shot at a Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot. A passenger in the car, identified by police as 27-year-old Alvin Mott Jr., allegedly got out and returned fire. Authorities believe that as Mott was retreating, he saw Thomas taking cover and may have mistakenly believed he was involved in the initial shooting. Arrest documents state that Mott intentionally shot Thomas before continuing to fire aimlessly.

Following an investigation, authorities secured an arrest warrant for Alvin Mott Jr. in connection with Thomas's death. U.S. Marshals tracked Mott to a residence in Baker, where a four-hour standoff ensued on April 23. Mott was ultimately taken into custody. As of April 2024, the case against him was proceeding through the legal system.