Prayer Vigil Planned For Man Killed by Smyrna Police

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Concerned citizens and community leaders will assemble in Smyrna on Tuesday for a prayer vigil in the wake of the killing of a man outside a tire shop in Vinings last week.

The Cobb County branch of the NAACP says that the vigil for 23-year-old Nicholas Thomas will be held at Shaw Temple AME Zion Church at 6 p.m., the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

On March 24, seven Cobb and Smyrna police officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Thomas, who was wanted for a probation violation, at the Goodyear inside the Vinings Crossing shopping center where he worked. Police say Thomas, who was driving a Maserati around the back of the store, began driving recklessly inside the parking lot and pointed the vehicle towards the officers.

That’s when Smyrna police Sgt. Kenneth Owens, allegedly fearing for his life, shot at the Maserati and killed Thomas.

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

• Smyrna Police Identify Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting Incident
• 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

Smyrna police chief David Lee said in the days following the shooting that Cobb County Police and the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office will handle the investigation into the shooting, with Smyrna police conducting their own internal probe. Lee said he spoke with civil rights leaders to assure them that the investigation would be fair and impartial.

However, questions regarding the official sequence of events are already being asked; according to WSB-TV. witnesses said that the police account is incorrect. Additionally,footage recorded of the Maserati shows no bullet holes in the front window, which suggests that Thomas was not driving directly towards Owens and the other officers when he opened fire.

Attorneys for the Thomas family want an independent investigation to be conducted, and were unhappy that police were not forthcoming on details of the investigation, The Chicago Defender said.

Protesters disrupted brunch at several Smyrna and Vinings area restaurants over the weekend to raise awareness of allegations racism in police shootings, including the shooting of Thomas.

Owens has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, police said.