New Orleans man pleads guilty to killing man he caught burglarizing his father's car

quote:

---

A New Orleans man scheduled to stand trial in the shooting death of a man he spotted burglarizing his father's vehicle outside of a Harvey bar instead pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, according to Jefferson Parish court records.

John Thomas III, 37, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and obstruction of justice in the death of Dillon Battiste.

Judge Frank Brindisi of the 24th Judicial District Court sentenced Thomas to 20 years in prison on each count, court records said.

---

quote:

---

The elder and younger Thomas were out with family and friends at a sports bar in the 1500 block of Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey on the night of Oct. 12, 2023. John Thomas III had been partially paralyzed in a motorcycle accident several years ago, relatives said.

He lost the use of his legs but could still drive a car. As his family partied inside, he remained outside the bar, sitting in the driver's seat of his car, which was parked out front, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

At about 11:45 p.m., Thomas called his father to let the relatives know he was about to leave. John Thomas Jr. came out to his son's car because he wanted to more his Chevrolet Trailblazer, which was parked in grassy field behind the bar, to the parking spot his son was about to vacate, according to authorities.

---

quote:

---

John Thomas III drove his father around to the backside of the building. But as they got closer to John Thomas Jr.'s SUV, they noticed the dome light was on inside the vehicle, authorities said. Father and son realized a stranger was burglarizing the Trailblazer.

A security camera recorded what happened next. John Thomas Jr. got out of his son's car to confront the burglar, later identified by authorities as Battiste. Battiste can be seen on camera moments earlier entering the Trailblazer and rummaging through the vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office.

As John Thomas Jr. stood near the passenger side of his SUV, investigators say his son shot at Battiste while still sitting inside his own car. In the surveillance video, a muzzle flash can be seen inside John Thomas III's sedan, the Sheriff's Office said.

---

quote:

---

Battiste was shot once in the back. The bullet exited through his chest, authorities said. Battiste stumbled and fell to the ground and tried to continue to run away. But he ultimately collapsed.

The elder Thomas is seen on video walking toward the injured Battiste but turning away before he got close, authorities said. He spoke briefly with his son before John Thomas III drove away.

John Thomas Jr. walked back to the bar and spoke to a women before returning to his Trailblazer and fleeing the scene, the Sheriff's Office said. Neither called authorities to report the shooting or seek help for Battiste, who was taken to a hospital and later died.

John Thomas III was charged with second-degree murder and faced a life sentence if convicted. Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

---