Brian Thomas

Deadly force

Police said undercover RPD narcotics officers were conducting a sting in the Merri-Warren Plaza parking lot at around 3:30 p.m.. where an informant had arranged to sell five men 3 kilos of cocaine. Three men arrived in a Chevrolet Lumina. Brian Thomas and another man got into the back seat of the informant's Mercedes with a bag police said they initially believed had the money, but that "there was no money in the bag. This was set up to be a robbery from the get-go." A Buick Rendezvous carrying the other two men arrived. According to police, the passenger got out and allegedly pointed a handgun at the informant, who grabbed the gun barrel. Nine officers jumped from two undercover vans parked behind the Mercedes as the passenger and Thomas allegedly ran toward the Bob's of Canton-Westland grocery store while shooting at police. The officers returned fire, hitting Thomas four times. He died in front of the market. The Buick's passenger was also hit, fled into the store and was arrested, along with another man. Both drivers fled. One was arrested later that night; the other surrendered the following night, police said. Witnesses said up to 100 shots were fired. No officers or bystanders were physically injured. According to police, the informant had minor injuries not caused by gunfire.