Myhka Thomas

Myhka Thomas, an 18-year-old resident of Merced, California, was known for her vibrant personality and the love she shared with her family and friends. Her life was tragically cut short in the final days of 2021, leaving a void in the community that knew her.

The fatal incident occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, December 30, 2021. Just before 5 p.m., an altercation broke out near the intersection of W. 10th Street and W. Street in Merced. The dispute escalated with shocking suddenness when a suspect drew a firearm and shot into a car that was stopped in the roadway. Inside the vehicle were Myhka, a Black female, and a 17-year-old female friend.

When Merced Police Department officers responded to reports of the shooting, they arrived to a devastating scene. Myhka had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead where she was found. Her 17-year-old companion was also injured by the gunfire and was quickly transported to a regional trauma center in Modesto for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle had fled the immediate scene of the shooting, stopping in the 1000 block of W. Street to wait for emergency personnel.

The investigation into Myhka’s death was handled by Merced Police detectives. They determined the shooting was not a random act of violence, suggesting a prior conflict may have existed between the parties involved. Through their investigation, they quickly identified a suspect. The following day, on New Year's Eve, the department announced they had secured a $2.9 million arrest warrant for 15-year-old Robert Fitzgerald Lewis III on charges of murder and other offenses. Police released his name and photograph, warning the public that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

In the weeks and months that followed, law enforcement continued to seek information from the public that could lead to the apprehension of Lewis. The community was left shaken by the violent death of a young woman on the cusp of adulthood and the fact that the alleged perpetrator was himself just a teenager. The case highlighted the persistent issue of youth and gun violence in the Central Valley.

Despite the public identification of a suspect, there have been no subsequent announcements regarding an arrest in connection with Myhka Thomas's murder. The case has grown cold in the public eye, with no new information released by authorities on the status of the search for Robert Fitzgerald Lewis III or the progression of the investigation.

As of late 2023, the case officially remains open. Myhka’s loved ones are left waiting for justice and for a resolution that might bring some measure of closure. The Merced Police Department continues to ask for the public’s help. Anyone with information regarding the homicide or the whereabouts of Robert Fitzgerald Lewis III is urged to contact Detective Steven Odom at (209) 388-7814 or the anonymous tip line at (209) 385-4725.