Frederick Wayne Thomas, a 28-year-old African American man from Jefferson, Texas, was shot in the face and neck at the Marion County residence of Prentis Earl Smith II on May 7, 2018. He was airlifted to a Shreveport hospital and died three days later from his injuries.

Prentis Earl Smith II, 42, was arrested and tried in the 276th District Court before Judge Robert Rolston. Witnesses at trial included the first responding officer, Sheriff David McKnight, deputies Frank Cason and Robbie Davis, a forensic pathologist from Dallas and a blood analysis expert from Austin. Smith testified he fired in self-defense and said the gun belonged to Thomas; after several hours of deliberation the jury rejected that claim, convicted Smith of murder and sentenced him to 75 years. The jury considered Smith’s prior felony convictions when imposing the sentence, and Smith indicated he intended to appeal; an attorney from Morris County was appointed for the appeal.

Did anyone in the Jefferson or Marion County area know Frederick Thomas or have information about what happened at that residence on May 7, 2018?