Trio arrested following fight and gunfire at Jonesboro business

Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Court documents stated that a fight at a Jonesboro business escalated into a chaotic scene involving multiple weapons, including a shotgun, landing three people behind bars.

On March 3, Jonesboro police officers responded to a business in the 500 block of North Culberhouse Street for a disturbance involving weapons. Upon arrival, officers found multiple suspects at the scene, court documents said.

According to affidavits, 37-year-old Jay Thomas had been involved a fight at the business earlier in the day. Two victims told detectives that as they were leaving the parking lot in their vehicle, Jay grabbed a shotgun and fired at them, striking the front of the vehicle. Jay, who was at the scene, was found to have an active warrant and was detained. Detectives noted he is on probation and has a past felony conviction.

In a separate but related fight at the same location, police learned that 33-year-old Jessie Lee Thomas and 36-year-old Tosha Thomas arrived at the business and confronted one of the victims. The affidavits noted that Tosha is in a domestic relationship with the victim in question. A fight broke out after the women exited their vehicle, during which they grabbed a golf club and a bat. Tosha struck the victim with the golf club, which broke and caused a cut on his hand.

The violence escalated when Jessie pulled out a firearm and struck the victim in the face with it. During this struggle, the firearm discharged. The victim managed to grab Jessie and knock the gun away, which was then recovered by a witness. Jessie subsequently threw a drill at the victim, striking him in the face.

During interviews, both women admitted to their involvement in the fight. Tosha admitted to having the golf club, and Jessie to having the firearm. It was also learned that Jessie has a past felony conviction.

All three suspects appeared before District Judge David Boling on March 4, where he found probable cause to charge them on multiple offenses. They are all scheduled to appear in court on April 23. All suspects were ordered to have no contact with the victims in their respective cases.

Jay Thomas is being held on a $250,000 cash/surety bond and was ordered to wear a GPS ankle monitor upon release due to having multiple failure to appear charges. He faces up to 46 years in prison and $40,000 if convicted on the following charges:

Terroristic act – occupiable structure, a class B felony.
Possession of firearm by certain persons / prior violent felony with deadly weapon / firearm used in another crime, a class B felony.
Aggravated assault, a class D felony.

Jessie Lee Thomas is being held on a $75,000 cash/surety bond. She faces up to 12 years in prison and $20,000 in fines if convicted on the following charges:

Aggravated assault, a class D felony.
Possession of firearm by certain person / prior felony, a class D felony.

Tosha Thomas is also being held on a $75,000 cash/surety bond. She faces up to 16 years in prison and $20,000 in fines if convicted on the following charges: