By: Heather Ratcliffe
STLToday.com, August 20, 2009)
A St. Louis jury acquitted a man Wednesday evening who had been charged with shooting to death Albert J. Thomas, 19, in June 2008.
Devon O. Williams, 19, of St. Louis, was found not guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. His defense attorney, Scott Rosenblum, argued that the police and prosecutors got the wrong man during a sloppy investigation. He said Williams didn't even match the description that witnesses gave of the shooter.
Witnesses told police that two men with short hair pulled a gun on Thomas and shot him outside in the 1400 block of Belt Avenue. Williams wore dread-locks at the time of the killing. Police arrested him several weeks later after he cut his hair, Rosenblum said.
Prosecutor Trent Mitchell argued that witnesses picked Williams out of a line up despite what hairstyle he wore. Mitchell said Williams shot Thomas after the victim and Williams' sister were involved in an incident.
Police found shell casings at the scene. The defense criticized police because they did not test them for fingerprints. But a detective testified that usable fingerprints are rarely found on shell casings.
A witness said he and Thomas were walking down the street when two gunman showed their weapons and began following them. They fired on Thomas.
Thomas lived in the 4800 block of Maffitt Avenue. He was a graduate of Central ABI High School and worked at the Greater Paradise M.B. Church in St. Louis. Family members said he loved music and football.
