Murder suspect arrested

Friday, October 30, 2009
By David Melson

Brandon "BG" Holmes, second from left, who was charged with first degree murder early today in last week's shooting death of Gary LeTron Thomison, is escorted to Bedford County Jail by, from left, Detective Charles Merlo, Lt. Jason Williams and Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department.
(T-G Photo by David Melson)
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The main suspect in last Friday's shooting death of Gary LeTron Thomison has confessed, and another man Shelbyville police said they previously considered a suspect faces a lesser charge.

Brandon Jamar "BG" Holmes, 21, of Shelbyville was picked up by Chattanooga police Thursday and was returned here by SPD Detective Sgt, Brian Crews and Detective Charles Merlo, arriving around 1 a.m. today. He has been charged with first degree murder, Crews said.

George "G" Simpson, 24, of Murfreesboro, who police held several days for questioning but did not actually charge with murder, is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, Crews said.

"Holmes saw himself in the news and decided to turn himself in," Crews said. "He did confess to shooting Thomison.

"He is originally from Chattanooga and had only been here three weeks."

Thomison, 23, of Shelbyville was shot to death last Friday night in the parking lot of Oak Hill Village II Apartments, Burt Street, during a heated argument, police said. He allegedly pushed a woman in Holmes' vehicle, according to investigators.

Holmes allegedly fired five shots into Thomison's torso with a .45-caliber gun, police said.

Following the shooting Holmes -- not Simpson, as police had previously said -- fled the scene and left his SUV in the parking lot of a Madison Street tobacco store, Crews said.

"He left the car there and went to a motel where he checked in for less than an hour until someone came from Murfreesboro to pick him up," Crews said.

Simpson was present when the shooting occurred, Crews said, but did not fire a weapon. He is being charged in connection with a gun found in a Murfreesboro apartment where he was arrested early Tuesday, according to Crews.

"The .45-caliber gun found in the apartment was not the murder weapon and is not Simpson's," Crews said.

Detectives said they have more information on the shooting weapon's possible location and were going to search further today.

Holmes had been placed on the TBI's Ten Most Wanted list this week, according to its Web site.

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Maybe there will be justice for Tron, and his family now. Its just a shame that such a young an had to lose his life. RIP Tron!!!!!!

-- Posted by greeneyedmomof3 on Fri, Oct 30, 2009, at 10:28 AM

I do pray for both the families.apparently prayer touched this boys heart to turn himself in too. Its all about CHOICES you make. He has ruined his life and killed someone elses. WHY??? WHY did this have to happen...?

-- Posted by angelseverywhere on Fri, Oct 30, 2009, at 11:07 AM

There's another ones rights violated!! How can you charge someone with unlawful possession of a firearm in some elses house?? Your far left taxex at work. Enjoy what freedoms you have left.You won't have them long with Obama and his group in office.

-- Posted by tiredofthiscrap on Fri, Oct 30, 2009, at 11:36 AM

This is just another terrible tragedy. I feel for all of those involved, and wish them the best in overcoming this situation.

-- Posted by Brett Favre on Fri, Oct 30, 2009, at 6:30 PM

I love what it says under that pic. " Brandon BG Holmes, second from the left".... HAHAHA.. Never would have figured that one out!

-- Posted by Double Exposure on Fri, Oct 30, 2009, at 8:33 PM

I am glad they caught the actual shooter. I do have to wonder though, if there was more listening going on, as opposed to confrontation, if there would have been more clarity of the events that had transpired at the scene at the time the events took place.

-- Posted by memyselfi on Sat, Oct 31, 2009, at 7:21 AM

just thinking out loud, but maybe the reason Simpson was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon is because he admitted to having a weapon in his possession the night of the murder. (I don't know what Simpson did or did not say, I'm just talking in hypotheticals) The police recovered two guns when they arrested Simpson...maybe the OTHER gun was the one he had but didn't fire...that would be unlawful possession...I think.

-- Posted by jtjustice30 on Sun, Nov 1, 2009, at 12:32 PM

jtjustice30,

I would think that as close to the D.A.'s office as you are you would not have to talk in "hypotheticals" and "think out loud"?

Why not straight talk?

-- Posted by 007 on Mon, Nov 2, 2009, at 9:17 AM