downtown during the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration was defending himself from gunfire, his lawyer said Friday.
Police allege that Thomas used a gun modified into a machine gun to fatally shooting JaTerious Reives shortly before midnight. Authorities say another man then fired at Thomas, who returned fire. The gunfire exchange injured both, and in the melee, seven innocent bystanders suffered gunshot wounds. “I believe it was self-defense,” he said. “Please, look at my client. Look at my client’s history. He is a good kid. But when it’s your life, your brains are gonna be on the sidewalk, you best better believe you have a right to defend yourself.”
A constitutional amendment approved by voters in November, Aniah’s Law gives judge discretion to deny bail on a wide range of serious offenses. So far, though, no judge in Mobile County has granted the state’s request in an Aniah’s Law case.