St. Patrick’s Day proved lucky for a Holmesburg man who was accused of first-degree murder in connection with a February 2014 fatal shooting on a notorious block in his neighborhood.
A Philadelphia jury concluded more than nine hours of deliberations by acquitting Claude Thomas of all charges on March 17. In addition to the capital murder count, jurors also found Thomas not guilty of third-degree murder, carrying a firearm without a license and possessing an instrument of crime, according to Common Pleas Court records.
Police arrested Thomas, 28, of the 4700 block of Vista St., at his home on Feb. 5, 2014, three days after the shooting. Authorities alleged that an argument between Thomas and 25-year-old Rasheed Shannon sparked the gunfire, which occurred at about 1:45 p.m. outside Thomas’ home. Shannon, of the 4900 block of Fitler St., died the following day.
At the time, Thomas was on probation from a 2012 case in which he pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, firearms offenses and resisting arrest. Violation of probation proceedings were placed on hold pending the outcome of the murder trial.
The 4700 block of Vista St. was also the scene of the Aug. 23 murders of Dollie Evans, 67, and Ruby Thomas, 57, inside Evans’ rowhome in what authorities claim was a botched home invasion robbery. An accused accomplice in the slayings allegedly told police that he and another man conspired to steal cash and drugs from Evans, who was a crack dealer. It is unknown if Ruby Thomas was related to Claude Thomas. ••
