Ralph Thomas | Homicide Watch DC

20 Year Sentence in Killing of DC Falcons Manager

Laura Amico — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:15:23 -0400

Oma Crawford was sentenced this morning to 20 years in prison for the shooting death of Ralph Thomas, manager of the semi-profesional football team the DC Falcons.

Crawford pleaded guilty to the shooting in July, proffering that on June 3 he brought a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol in a bag to the Falcons` practice at McKinley Technology High School.

Crawford told investigators that he believed Thomas was having an affair with his wife.

At sentencing Crawford told the court that he only brought the gun to practice because Thomas had "threatened" him, saying, "this is your last day on earth."

Thomas' mother, Nettie Thomas, said it was the other way around. The day her son was killed, she said, she spoke with him about Crawford. Concerned that her son had received numerous text and voice messages from Crawford, she said she asked him before he left for football practice, "You think you need to go up there with him acting crazy?"

Thomas told her not to worry, she said.

Just hours later, according to court documents, Crawford and Thomas were in the school parking lot discussing their disagreement. Crawford left the argument, ran to his gym bag, and retrieved his gun. He then fired at least four shots at Thomas and ran away.

Prosecutors, and Thomas' family, asked for the maximum penalty possible.

"The court should have no mercy on him whatsoever," Derrick Adair, Thomas' brother, told the court. "Society should be tired of being preyed upon by people like Mr. Crawford. [Thomas] didn't deserve to die in the streets with a bullet in his head at the hands of a coward."

Crawford responded, saying that he was sorry for the shooting and loss of life.

"I've been locked up and I can think of a million ways now it could have been different,' he said.

He added, "I was going back to school and playing football. I'm an educated black man. Now my dream of college football is dead. I'm way above this and I know that. I'll accept responsibility. I just want a fair shot, that's it."

But Thomas' sister, Regina Thomas, said no outcome was fair.

"It did not turn out well for either side," she said. "We lost somebody. They lost somebody. This part is over. Now we heal. One day at a time."

A press release fron the US Attorney's Office is below Maryland Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison For Killing Another Man Outside a High School- Defendant Chased Victim, Firing At Least Four Gunshots -

WASHINGTON - Oma Crawford, 25, of Landover, Md., was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for killing a man earlier this year outside a high school in the District of Columbia, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Crawford pled guilty in July 2011 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of second-degree murder while armed. He was sentenced by the Honorable William M. Jackson. Upon completion of his prison term, Crawford will be placed on five years of supervised release.

According to the government’s evidence, Crawford and the victim, Ralph Thomas, 36, knew each other for several years through their involvement in high school and semi-professional football. At the time of the killing, in June 2011, Crawford played for the D.C. Falcons, and Thomas worked in the management of the team.

Crawford was upset with Thomas over a personal matter, and, on June 3, 2011, he brought a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol in a gym bag with him to a Falcons’ practice at McKinley Technology High School, in the 100 block of T Street NE. Crawford set down his gym bag at the edge of the parking lot and he and Thomas had a discussion at about 8:30 p.m.

At some point in the exchange, Crawford ran to the gym bag, pulled out the gun and chased Thomas around the parking lot, firing at least four shots. The victim, who was unarmed, was struck by a bullet in the head and he died as a result of the injury.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of those who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), including Detectives Anthony Greene, Gabriel Truby, and Konstantinos Giannakoulias, and Officers Terrence Richardson and Titus Pittman. Finally, he commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Gee, who prosecuted the case.

Oma Crawford Pleads Guilty to Fatal Shooting outside DC Falcons Football Practice

Laura Amico — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:48:01 -0400

The man suspected of fatally shooting 36-year-old Ralph Thomas outside McKinley Tech High School in June has pleaded guilty to the charges against him and faces a minimum of 14 years incarceration.

According to charging documents, Oma Crawford, 25-year-old Maryland man, shot Thomas on June 3 after an argument about Thomas communicating with Crawford's wife.

In pleading guilty to second-degree murder while armed in the case Friday, Crawford, an athlete with semi-pro football team the DC Falcons, proffered that he believed Thomas, a manager of the team, was having a sexual relationship with his wife.

According to Crawford's proffer,

On June 3, 201 l, [Crawford] brought a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol in a bag to the Falcons` practice at McKinley Technology High School located at l5l Street N.E. In the parking lot of the school. [Crawford] and [Thomas] discussed the situation involving the [Crawford's] wife. [Crawford] then ran to his bag, which he had left on the edge of the parking lot, and pulled the .330 out of it. [Crawford] then chased [Thomas] around the parking lot, firing at least four shots at [Thomas]. who was unarmed.

In pleading guilty to second-degree murder while armed, Crawford could face a sentence of life in prison. According to the plea deal however, prosecutor have agreed to seek a sentence of 14 to 20 years of incarceration.

The minimum sentence for the charge according to sentencing guidelines is five years.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7.

Funeral Service Today for Ralph Thomas

Laura Amico — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:15:09 -0400

A funeral service for Ralph Thomas is scheduled to begin at noon today, followed by his burial at Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham.

Thomas' obituary was published in the Washington Post on Tuesday and is online here.

Charging Documents Describe Chaotic Scene at Friday Night Football Shooting

Laura Amico — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:39:27 -0400

Witnesses to a Friday evening shooting that killed 36-year-old Ralph Thomas described a chaotic scene to police, with people shouting to protect children and running for cover.

In charging documents, prosecutors allege that Oma Crawford, a 25-year-old Maryland man, shot Thomas that night after an argument about Thomas communicating with Crawford's wife.

Both men played on a minor league football team and at least one other person from the team was at McKinley High School's football field with the men when the shooting occurred.

Thomas and Crawford appeared to have settled their argument Friday evening, when the two walked with another man toward the high school parking lot, a witness said. But moments later, calls to "get out of the way, get your children" rang out and people ran for cover. Four shots fired and a man said "OMAR NO, OMAR NO," then an expletive, charging documents allege.

Charging documents are after the jump.

Preliminary Hearing set for July 1 in Ralph Thomas Murder Case

Laura Amico — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:02:15 -0400

A Maryland man suspected of shooting to death 36-year-old Ralph Thomas outside McKinley Tech High School on Friday evening is expected in court July 1 for a preliminary hearing in the case.

Oma Crawford, 25, was presented with a second-degree murder charge in the case Saturday.

Oma Crawford Arrested in McKinley Tech High Shooting

Laura Amico — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:50:57 -0400

MPD Chief Cathy Lanier said this morning that an arrest has been made in the shooting death of a man in McKinley Tech High School's parking lot Friday evening.

Said Lanier,

The case has been closed with an arrest thanks to the 5D officers quick action on the scene last night.

A later press release identified the shooter as 25-year-old Oma Crawford of Landover, Md. He is suspected of first degree murder while armed, police said.

MPD Inspector Michael Eldridge said the shooting "appears to not have been a random act."

Update: MPD has identified the man arrested as 25-year-old Oma Crawford of Landover, Maryland.

Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 100 Block of T Street, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating the fatal shooting which occurred in the 100 block of T Street, NE.

On Friday, June 3, 2011, at approximately 8:35 pm, units from the Fifth District responded to the 100 block of T Street, NE to investigate a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and determined there were no signs of life. His remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner.

The decedent has been identified as 36-year-old Ralph Thomas of Temple Hills, MD.

Arrested and charged with First Degree Murder while Armed is 25-year-old Oma Crawford of Landover, Maryland.

"My friend was killed in dc tonight," says friend of McKinley Tech shooting victim

Laura Amico — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:43:55 -0400

Just hours after a man was reported killed in McKinley Tech's parking lot Friday evening, friends of Ralph Thomas identified him as the man slain.

"THE DECEASED IS 36 YR OLD RALPH THOMAS. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED...." wrote Butta'fly on Homicide Watch's initial report of the crime.

Others took to Twitter and Facebook.

"Ralph Thomas RIP my dude, I was just with @ the shop .... this shit makes no sense!!!" said Chris Createdc .

"my friend was killed in dc tonight in my hometown RIP Ralph aka Suga Wuga DC we need to put the GUNS DOWN! please," said DO DA TONY-T.

MPD has not issued any statement on the homicide.

According to Thomas' Facebook profile, he was a media entrepreneur who lived in Camp Springs, Md. He said he founded "Show N Tale," "an American men's magazine that features photographs of sexy women as well as journalism and fiction." The magazine was founded this year, according to Thomas' profile.

He lists his previous employers as The Phoenix Theater, PG County Public Schools and the United States Navy. He attended Bladensburg High School and Bowie State University.

Man Killed Friday Evening in McKinley Tech High School Parking Lot

Laura Amico — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:40:56 -0400

UPDATED with MPD statement.

Saddest part about the shooting was the youngsters in the parking lot starring at the deceased persons body.June 4, 2011 2:16 am via webReply RetweetFavorite@TimClarkANC5C05Timothy Clark

A man died of a gunshot wound Friday night in a high school parking lot in Northeast DC, the Washington Post reports.

Reports the Post,

The shooting occurred in a parking lot at McKinley Tech high school in Northeast Washington, authorities said.

D.C. public school officials said it appeared that the man was not connected with the school system.

A DC Alert went out at 8:44 Friday night for a shooting at the same location. That alert included a lookout for a black male with dreads and wearing all black clothing.

"Do not take action, call 911," the alert warned.

MPD issued a statement early Saturday morning.

A homicide occurred at 101 T Street NE (McKinley Tech H.S.) at approximately 8:30 PM on June 3, 2011.

Fifth District units responded to the scene, along with members of multiple other units of the Metropolitan Police Department. An investigation was conducted by detectives of the Violent Crimes Branch.

I would like to express my thanks to the community and specifically the large group of citizens who were asked to remain on the school campus while the investigation on scene was conducted. I am aware of the hardships and difficulties this may have posed for many of you. The attitudes we encountered were refreshingly polite and showed an understanding of the situation I have never encountered before. Your support and understanding as a group assisted us as members of the department working such a serious investigation greatly. Thank you.

Sergeant Sean R. Conboy
Fifth District