On October 20, at approximately 1 a.m., Tony Thacker, the manager of the VIP Smoke Shop in Delhi Township, Ohio near Cincinnati was charged in relation to a fatal shooting which occurred during an attempted robbery.
Reports indicate that a group of teenagers had broken into the storefront by throwing rocks and shattering windows. In response, Thacker exited from the backroom armed with a firearm and opened fire on the suspects.
As a result of this incident, 16-year-old Travis Johnson was killed and 19-year-old Amontae Carter sustained gunshot wounds after entering one of the suspect’s automobiles.
Prosecutor Melissa Powers claims that Thacker continued firing through the front door even as the suspects were fleeing from the scene.
On December 15, 18-year-old Messiah Hart and three other suspects aged 15, 16, and 17 were all charged with multiple offenses including burglary and murder in connection with an incident in which the victim was killed.
Tony Thacker, 21 years old, and his brother Malachi Thacker allegedly attempted to disable the store’s surveillance system before cleaning up the shell casings in an effort to conceal evidence of the shooting.
All seven people have been charged in relation to this incident.
Carter appeared in court on that same day without any visible injuries despite his attorney claiming that three bullets narrowly missed his spine.
His bond has been set at $1 million and if found guilty of all charges he faces life imprisonment with potential parole after 15 years.
The underage suspects are currently awaiting bond hearings within the juvenile court system.
On Friday, Powers announced that both Thacker brothers would be indicted.
The younger brother has been charged with two counts of tampering with evidence and Tony Thacker, the store manager, faces a charge of felony tampering with evidence as well as other felony charges, including one for assault in connection to the alleged attack against Carter.
“There is simply no justification for shooting at someone as they are running away,” Powers said in a statement. “However, I want to make perfectly clear — these retail thefts will not be tolerated. If you try to rob a store, you should expect to be shot.”
Due to Tony Thacker’s prior juvenile felony conviction, he was not legally allowed to own a gun.
As such, Prosecutor Powers opted to charge him with felony illegal possession of a firearm.
Delhi Township Police Chief Jeff Braun defended this decision, noting that “people have a right to defend themselves, but also the responsibility to make sure they’re within the stand your ground statute.”
“In this case, Mr. Thacker … simply crossed the line. He was shooting at people that were fleeing in a car from the business,” the police chief added.
The owner of the shop seemed to disagree, at least initially. Immediately after the shooting, the unidentified owner called 911 to report it. When the operator asked him who had shot the suspect, the owner reportedly replied, “My worker. He was protecting himself, the guy broke in the store.”
At a vigil for the late Johnson held outside the VIP Smoke Shop, tragedy struck again as Isaiah Johnson, the deceased’s 20-year-old brother, shot a 20-year-old woman in attendance.
Wednesday saw Isaiah Johnson charged with felony assault and an inquiry regarding this incident has been made to Powers’ office.
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23 Comments
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Shoot them bad guys
SPJNK
Some people just need killing.
Too few of them get it.
Great job! Too bad he didn’t get all three. Charging him is ridiculous.
The judge must be a DEMONrat!!
I guess the manager was just supposed to let them break in and steal everything.
I hope this sends a message to other would be thugs!
He should be given a metal for getting LESS garbage off the streets.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I heard somewhere that the current government allows them to shop for free and also take what doesn’t belong to them.
The frustration with the non-punishment of criminals prob gonna cause more of this. Hope jury don’t convict.
Since the criminal had no LEGAL POWER OR AUTHORITY to occupy the space necessary for the free travel of the projectile, there is no fault on the part of the store keeper.
Death by “CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE”!
According to CLASSICAL liberals like Adam Smith and John Locke, without property rights, there can be no political or personal rights. Thus, the primary right of self-defense applies to the right of property defense.
Yet the Leftists claim that alleged wealth deprivation gives poor people the right to escape justice for theft, pillaging, arson, and at times even murder. It also applies to the Left’s claim of the government’s right of theft through redistribution of property.
Lawlessness begets lawlessness. In the Thacker case, I urge jurors to acquit. Protect your community. Send a message. Acquit.
It is common knowledge that most people will fire a gun until it is empty.
Jurors, acquit that shop owner. Voters, defeat that liberal pro criminal DA. This criminal nonsense must stop
What a disgusting Criminal Family, the Johnson family, that is.
If I were on the jury, he would never be convicted. If someone comes in my house, and I shoot at him, and if he starts to run, I will continue to shoot. Hoping that I hit him. Actually, I believe I am good enough, one shot from me will take him down. My dad started me shooting at the age of 6.
God Bless the shooter, i can’t believe they are going to try this guy for murder!! Why is it this country stands behind the criminal?? If they charge him with murder they r bigger a__holes than i thought!!!!
Sickens me that we can be charged with a crime if we protect ourselves from the democrat protected class a.k.a Criminals. They’re calling it murder because the victim continued to fire as the criminals were ‘apparently’ retreating.? I guess only police are allowed to shoot to protect themselves?
It takes on a whole new look for the Thackerays to be tampering with evidence, though. That can really undo the good that they did. That was an error in judgement and could prove pivotal.
Three big problems for the Store Employee who shot the gun and killed the robbery suspect.
1) Possession of a fire arm by a convicted felon.
2) Firing at the robbery suspect while the suspect was fleeing. This negates the claim of self defense.
2) Tampering with evidence in an attempt to cover up the crime in number one and two above.
It is a tragedy that the store employee had a criminal record and made critical errors of judgement during the robbery.
What the hell is wrong with this Country and its criminal justice system ???
This young man deserves a not-guilty verdict….
Who’s who in those pictures, anyway? Think I can figure our Amontae’s color, but not what side of the law he was on in this. Don’t want to mis-label him.
Why the hell can’t store manager’s shoot the biches when they come to rob???
From the description of the events, the store owner behaved unlawfully. However, “jury nullification” would be appropriate. It would protect all future victims of crime. Fight crime with terror. Take back the night !