From Roanoke City Police: At 5:46 a.m. this morning, officers responded to the 1800 block of Cambridge Avenue SW to investigate a possible death. The address the officers responded to was the residence of Michael Paul Thomas. When officers arrived on scene, Roanoke Fire EMS had pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Officers conducted interviews, collected potential physical evidence, and conducted further investigation. As a result of that investigation, officers charged Thomas with second degree murder. The victim has been identified as the suspect’s father, David Scott Thomas, age 64, of Roanoke. The investigation is on-going.
(The suspect was charged with an assault six hours early on Memorial Avenue. Continue reading for the Roanoke Police news release on that incident.)
On October 5, 2014 at 11:50 p.m. Roanoke Police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Memorial Avenue SW to investigate an assault. The victim, a 19-year-old man from Roanoke, told officers he was walking home when he was the victim of an apparent unprovoked attack. The victim, who was not familiar with the suspect, was thrown to the ground and physically assaulted. While en route to the call, officers observed a suspect at the corner of Memorial and Oxford Avenue SW. Officers made contact with the suspect, identified as Michael Paul Thomas, age 41, of Roanoke. Officers arrested Thomas and charged him with misdemeanor assault and battery. He was transported him to Roanoke City Jail.
