Murder suspect tells detective drugs led to shots

Brandon Jamar "BG" Holmes, center, listens with defense attorneys Mary White and Robert Marlow to testimony from Shelbyville Detective Brian Crews about the Oct. 23 murder of Gary LeTron Cordelle "Tron" Thomison.
(T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Brandon Jamar "BG" Holmes, 21, of Shelbyville was bound over to the Bedford County grand jury after a preliminary hearing before General Sessions Court Judge Charles Rich. Holmes is accused of murdering 23-year-old Gary LeTron Cordelle "Tron" Thomison of Shelbyville.

Rich set bond for Holmes at $2 million. The grand jury convenes on Monday.

Assistant District Attorney Richard Crawley questioned Detective Brian Crews, who testified that he was called to Oak Hill Village II Apartments on Burt Street on the night of Oct. 23 in response to the shooting.

Crews said the scene had been secured by the patrol division and Thomison's body had already been removed when he arrived. A total of eight shell casing were found at the scene from a .45-caliber handgun.

Witnesses to the shooting were interviewed, as well as some who had been arrested to maintain order at the scene, Crews said, adding that two possible suspects were identified -- Holmes and George "G" Simpson, 24, of Murfreesboro.

At first, police thought both men may have committed the shooting, but after further investigation, authorities determined that the bullets were fired from a single gun.

Crews said that the bullets used in the murder had been purchased the night before at Shelbyville's Walmart.

After a search of the store's records and video surveillance, it was learned that Holmes allegedly bought the ammunition and was accompanied by Simpson, the detective said. A receipt for the ammunition was entered into evidence.

The video allegedly shows Holmes taking the ammo from the shelf, taking it to the cashier and paying for it.

Warrants were issued for Holmes, charging him with first degree murder and Crews contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to have him put on the state's 10 most wanted list. Information was then received that Holmes was in the Chattanooga area and he turned himself in a short time later.

During the interviews with Holmes, Crews testified that he confessed to shooting Thomison multiple times, fleeing the scene, ditching the car he was in and renting a motel room at the Bedford Inn.

The motive

Crews said that on the day before the murder, Holmes was allegedly selling crack cocaine off of Burt Street and when he finished the drug deal, was approached by Thomison who told Holmes he was on his territory.

Thomison allegedly then took $40 from Holmes in a strong-arm robbery. Crews said it was after this incident that Holmes allegedly went to Walmart to buy the ammunition since the gun Holmes had only had one bullet in the chamber.

Crews also said that Holmes told Simpson he was going to get even with Thomison, and Simpson allegedly stated that "you're not going to get even with this man with one bullet."

According to Holmes' written confession, he was with his sister, Kasey Maddox, Wendy Holman, and Simpson, "riding around just chillin'" and they entered the parking lot of Oak Hill Village Apartments on the night of Oct. 23.

Thomison pulled up behind the parked vehicle, shoved Maddox and according to Holmes' written statement, "he (Thomison) rushed me, so I fired."

"I was scared for my life, that guy had been messing with me for a while," the confession reads.

Afterwards, Holmes allegedly contacted Sergio White to take him to Murfreesboro and on the way, they stopped at an unknown location to dispose of the weapon in a drainage ditch. From Murfreesboro, Holmes then fled to Chattanooga.

Crews said that police have yet to find the murder weapon, since Holmes is unfamiliar with the area. Police are also searching for White, who has been charged with tampering with evidence. Crews believes that White may have returned to where the weapon was dropped and retrieved it.

Thomison unarmed

During cross examination from defense attorney Robert Marlow, Crews said the information he had about the events of Oct. 23 came from statements from Simpson and witnesses at the scene.

Marlow asked Crews if Holmes would have been legally able to buy the ammo and Crews said he was not sure. Marlow also asked about Simpson's criminal record in Rutherford County and if he would have been permitted to buy the bullets.

Simpson also bought 9mm ammo earlier that day as well, but not at the same time that Holmes bought his, Crews said. Holmes also said that he allegedly got the .45 from Simpson after the alleged robbery that was committed by Thomison, the detective testified.

It was also revealed during cross examination that Simpson "became scared" and allegedly fired several rounds from his 9 mm nearby on Belmont Avenue at Oak Hill Village II in an attempt to prove that he didn't have the .45-caliber handgun that he had allegedly given to Holmes.

Officers also reported hearing gunfire as they were responding to the report of Thomison's shooting.

Marlow and Crews also went over an aerial photo of the apartment complex to show which direction Holmes allegedly escaped the scene of the murder.

Other questions from Marlow centered on the type of gun Holmes allegedly had -- a revolver or a semi automatic. Crews testified that from the number of shell casings found, it was likely a semi-automatic handgun.

Crews also said that people at the scene had attempted to move Thomison into a vehicle to take him to a hospital, but were unable to do so.

Thomison was known to law enforcement as a drug dealer, Crews said, but he was not armed that night. No drugs were recovered from the murder victim either.

Crews also testified that text messages were sent from Thomison's cell phone to Holmes that stated "that it didn't take a weapon to rob you." The text messages also indicted there was an incident that occurred the night before the shooting.

In closing, Marlow argued that the charges against Holmes should be second degree murder or voluntary manslaughter and that Thomison may have been hunting Holmes, but Rich ruled that alleged robbery the day before and the purchase of the ammo would lead to indicate premeditation.

Rich then bound Holmes over to the next session of the grand jury, which meets on Monday. Arraignment will be at 1 p.m.