Murder suspect in custody

The alleged gunman in Friday night's murder of Gary LeTron Cordelle 'Tron' Thomison is in custody, authorities said today.

George "G" Simpson, 24, of Murfreesboro, was arrested there about 1:30 to 1: 45 a.m. today by Murfreesboro police, Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said.

"He tried to hide in a house there," Crews said.

Simpson was interrogated for several hours this morning, Crews said.

"He's cooperating," Crews said. "We feel like he's telling us the truth."

Investigators say they are still hoping to talk to Brandon Holmes of Shelbyville, who they say was present when the murder was committed.

Simpson contacted police earlier about surrendering, Shelbyville police said Monday.

"He called us yesterday (Sunday) and said he would like to turn himself in but he was scared," Crews said. "He gave us a location which we went to and he wasn't there."

Simpson is accused of shooting Thomison, 23, of Shelbyville several times with a .45 caliber pistol in the parking lot of Oak Hill Village II Apartments, Burt Street, late Friday night, police said.

The shots were fired after an argument in which Thomison allegedly "pushed" a woman in Simpson's vehicle, Crews said Saturday.

Simpson's vehicle was found by officers in the parking lot of Discount Tobacco Outlet, Madison Street, within an hour.

Officers were looking for the murder weapon across parts of Shelbyville on Sunday.

"We were canvassing an area looking to see if we could find a weapon on Madison Street," Crews said. "We canvassed the area from the scene to Discount Tobacco Outlet and another area on Madison Street."

Several officers rifled through a Dumpster at another Madison Street store searching for the gun, Crews said.

An autopsy was conducted Sunday which Crews said revealed, as investigators had suspected, that Thomison was shot multiple times in the torso.

Anyone with information can call CrimeStoppers, 685-4300, or Shelbyville police headquarters, 684-5811.

Funeral services for Thomison, who was a student at Motlow State Community College's Smyrna campus and a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, are scheduled for noon Wednesday at Fairlane Church of Christ.

Chaotic scene

Police reports released Monday indicate chaos reigned for several minutes at the scene immediately after Friday's shooting with officers using trees and parked vehicles as cover upon initial approach.

Two persons were arrested on disorderly conduct charges with one tasered, police said.

"Upon arrival we saw (Thomison) lying on the asphalt...Wendy Holman was cradling him by the head and Tony Rankins was holding him by the right arm," Sgt. James Wilkerson said. "There was chaos amongst his friends and/or relatives."

Holman, 27, of Belmont Avenue is listed as Thomison's wife in his obituary notice. Police had described Holman as his "ex-wife" Saturday.

She had been a passenger in a vehicle with Simpson and warned Thomison, "Tron, they've got guns, they've got guns," moments before the shooting, Crews said.

Wilkerson said he ordered bystanders to back away and "had to physically remove one" so Bedford County Emergency Medical Service personnel could treat Thomison.

Quintion Latwain Harris allegedly cursed, shed his overcoat and came towards Wilkerson with a clenched fist, police said.

He was met by two 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force agents before he could reach me and taken to the ground," Wilkerson said. "While on the ground he was still combative and refusing to obey verbal commands. For the safety of the agents who were struggling I deployed my Taser X26 and drive stunned him in the buttocks. He then complied and was placed into custody."

Harris, 26, of Landers Street was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and posted $3,500 bond, Bedford County Jail records indicate.

"It became clear that the crowd was not going to cooperate," Officer Tory Moore said. "Multiple people began fleeing into an apartment despite commands to stop."

Holman, who officers described as "covered with blood," allegedly left the apartment and refused orders to come forward with raised hands.

"She approached quickly, cursing loudly, and pressed her chest into the barrel of my weapon (a tactical shotgun) despite commands to back up," Moore said.

The officer said he left Holman for a moment and checked Thomison repeatedly for a pulse, finding none.

Holman was crouched by Thomison as EMTs prepared to carry him to an ambulance, when Moore said he was ordered to ask her to back away.

"She screamed curse words at me and forcibly tried to get around me," Moore said. "She...had to be physically moved to a place of safety. She persisted and pushed me backwards at which time she was taken into custody."

Holman was released on $500 bond, according to jail records.