UPDATED: Man still alive, police searching for assailant

Published 1:15 pm Sunday, March 6, 2016

Police are continuing their investigation into the shooting of a Vicksburg man who was found in the parking lot of Blackburn Motors on North Frontage Road early Sunday morning.

John Thomas, 52, was discovered by a police officer on patrol in the area about 6:30 a.m. Sunday lying face down in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong said Thomas’ 2014 Honda Accord, tag number WBN 305, had been stolen. He said no weapons were found at the scene.

Thomas was taken to Merit Health River Region Medical Center and later transferred by helicopter to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he was listed in very critical condition, Vicksburg police Capt. Sandra Williams said. She said officers were unable to talk to him before he was transferred because of his condition.

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Armstrong said Thomas was found near the area where his wife, Andrea, was killed in a collision with an 18-wheeler in December 2014.

“We are trying to learn where he was during the night,” Armstrong said Sunday. “We don’t know if he was shot where he was found or shot someplace else and dropped here.”

He said police are not sure if the shooting is connected to Rafael McCloud, who escaped from the Warren County Jail Wednesday morning. McCloud was awaiting trial in the death of Sharen Wilson, who was killed June 28.

“We are not ruling anything out, but right now our main concern is finding out where this man was and how he ended up where he was found.”

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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