Repo man's family calls accused a 'coward'

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By Mike Morris and Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The suspect in the slaying of a man who was repossessing his Ford Mustang last week didn't show up for his initial hearing Wednesday, but the family of the victim did. And they had strong words for the man accused of shooting their loved one.

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The mother and wife of slain repo-man, Brandon Thomas - Treva Thomas (Mom)(left) and wife, Brandy Thomas (right) exited the Fulton County Jail angry Wednesday after learning that defendant, Justin Moore waived his first appearance in court.

John Spink, AJC The mother and wife of slain repo-man, Brandon Thomas - Treva Thomas (Mom)(left) and wife, Brandy Thomas (right) exited the Fulton County Jail angry Wednesday after learning that defendant, Justin Moore waived his first appearance in court.

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Justin Moore

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Brandon Thomas's mother, Treva Thomas (left) and his wife, Brandy Thomas, had strong words for the man accused of shooting their loved one, saying he should have come out and faced them.

John Spink, AJC Brandon Thomas's mother, Treva Thomas (left) and his wife, Brandy Thomas, had strong words for the man accused of shooting their loved one, saying he should have come out and faced them.

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"I think he's a coward and he should have come out today and faced us," said Brandy Thomas, widow of Brandon Thomas. "He's going to have to do it eventually. We're going to be here every day."

Brandy Thomas clutched several pictures of her husband, saying that she wanted to show them to Justin Moore and his family members so they could "see what he took away and what we don't have. I want him to see what he's done."

Thomas was accompanied by her mother-in-law, Treva Thomas, who said, "I lost my child. I lost my child. May God help [Moore] because I'm gonna be here every day."

Asked what she would say to Moore, Treva Thomas replied, "Why? Why? Just why? I don't know why."

Moore, who was arrested Tuesday morning in DeKalb County, waived his initial hearing and will remain in the Fulton County jail at least until his next court appearance, likely to be Dec. 2, Fulton Sheriff's spokesman Tracy Flanagan said.

While being questioned by Fulton County police Tuesday, Moore, 29, told investigators that he stashed the weapon used in the shooting near where he dropped off his car last week, Fulton County Police spokeswoman Det. Melissa Parker said.

"Mr. Moore was cooperative with detectives," Parker said.

Police said Moore was with childhood friend Kenneth Merritt when he was captured Tuesday morning.

Parker said investigators don't know if Merritt was helping Moore hide from police or if he even knew Moore was wanted. Detectives questioned Merritt, who was driving, Tuesday afternoon.

Fulton police won't charge Merritt, 29, although he could face charges from DeKalb County police where he lives and where he and Moore were arrested, Parker said.

The lead investigator on the case, also assigned to the Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task force, spotted Moore around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Parker said. At the same time, Moore spotted Fulton police detective Donnie Doyle and bailed out of a moving car on Flat Shoals Parkway near Interstates 20 and 285 east of downtown Atlanta.

Doyle and other members of the fugitive task force caught Moore moments later in a nearby creekbed.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday, Thomas, 27, of Kennesaw and Willie Thackston, 36, of Rydal were at Moore's house on Milam Loop, near the Fulton-Fayette County line, loading his gray 2004 Mustang onto a tow truck.

Police said someone fired a shotgun at Thackston and Thomas

As they sped away, Thackston and Thomas were chased, allegedly, by Moore driving a van. Police said Moore somehow forced the truck to stop about a quarter-mile from the house.

At gunpoint, Moore forced one of them to take the Mustang off the truck, police said.

Moore allegedly shot and killed Thomas and wounded Thackston, who was in stable condition at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Parker said Moore returned the van to his house then ran back to get the Mustang.

Fulton County police chased the car in Clayton County but backed off after hitting speeds of 150 mph. The car was later found abandoned near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Clayton County.

Parker said Moore was charged with murder and aggravated assault and more charges are expected.

-- Staff writers John Spink, Larry Hartstein and Marcus K. Garner contributed to this story.