Highland Man Charged With Voluntary Manslaughter In Lowell Shooting
Timothy Thomas, 40 of Highland an officer with The Department of Veteran Affairs was charged Monday with Voluntary Manslaughter in the shooting of a Lowell man Sunday morning.
Lake County Sheriff Officers were called to the home shortly after midnight Sunday for a fight with shots fired, according to court documents provided to RNS. While enroute to the scene officers were informed by dispatch that the man that fired the shots was an off duty officer and was waiting on the corner of the block to speak to police. Police met with Timothy Thomas on the corner and secured his weapon on arrival. Police found Nicohlas Lile, 42, shot and deceased in the basement of his home.
Thomas. Lile, and two females were all drinking at Lile’s residence, having a good time according to court records. The two females who were sitting across the basement away from Thomas and Lile who were near a pool table on the other side. The two men began arguing over their military experience, but in a “good natured joking manner” and there was no reason to be concerned, according to one witness.
Thomas however told police Lile began to “act crazy”. Thomas stated, he was grabbed by his throat and thrown to the ground by Lile while being choked by him. Thomas stated he was able to get out of his sweatshirt and break free but then was punched. Thomas then stood up told Lile he was going to leave and not to sweat it. Thomas stated that’s when Lile said, “I’m going to kill you” and then lunged at Thomas. Thomas fired two shots at Lile in the upper chest he told police. Police did take photographs of Thomas who had a slight red mark near his nose and a scratch above his eyebrow.
A witness also described that the two men became physical with each other near the pool table but she did not hear the initial argument. A few moments later she heard two gun shots, when the witnesses turned around she saw the two men approximately 1 foot apart from each other and that’s when Lile fell from being struck by the bullets.
