Man Killed by Smyrna Police Was Shot in Back: Autopsy

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The man who was killed by Smyrna police in March was shot in the back, according to an autopsy performed by the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The autopsy reports that Nicholas Thomas, 23, was killed by a bullet which entered his body from his right upper back and stopped at his left upper chest, the Marietta Daily Journal writes. The bullet passed through Thomas’ aorta and punctured his lung, the autopsy says.

Medical Examiner Christopher Gulledge tells the MDJ that though the bullet entered Thomas’ back, he may not have been directly in front of Sgt. Kenneth Owens, the officer who pulled the trigger. Gulledge says that the path of the bullet was more side-to-side than front-to-back.

More on the Killing of Nicholas Thomas From Smyrna-Vinings Patch:

• Smyrna Police Officer Who Shot Man Returns to Work
• Funeral of Man Killed by Smyrna Police Announced
• Smyrna Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting Faced Assault, Battery Charges in ‘99: Report
• Vigil For Man Killed by Smyrna Police Draws Hundreds of Supporters
• Prayer Vigil Planned For Man Killed by Smyrna Police
• Smyrna Police Identify Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting Incident
• Protesters Disrupt Smyrna-Area Restaurants After Police Shooting
• Smyrna Police Chief: Cobb PD, DA’s Office Will Investigate Officer-Involved Killing
• Family of Man Slain By Smyrna Police Want Independent Investigation
• UPDATE: Police Say Vinings Shooting Victim Drove Vehicle At Officers, One Officer Opened Fire

On March 24, Owens and officers Chris Graeff and Mark Cole were joined by four Cobb County police officers in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant on Thomas, who was working at the Goodyear inside the Vinings Crossing shopping center.

Police say that when Thomas saw the officers approaching, he drove a customer’s white Maserati around the building several times in a reckless manner, and then drove straight at the officers. At this point, police say that Owens feared for his safety and fired at the Maserati, killing Thomas.

Owens was on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, but the Marietta Daily Journal reported earlier this month that Owens is back on the force in a purely administrative role so he can more easily be contacted by the GBI, who is conducting an independent probe into the incident.

News that Owens was back at work outraged Thomas’ brother Triston, who joined with several other activists in a silent protest outside restaurants in Midtown, CBS Atlanta reports.