The prosecutor in an Ohio county charged the store manager involved in a fatal shooting during an attempted smoke shop robbery in the Cincinnati area that took place earlier in the year, then warned thieves that they should “expect to be shot” when attempting to rob retail locations and that retail theft will not be something her office tolerates.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers delivered a stark warning to thieves and would-be thieves in the wake of the incident, saying that while the store manager’s conduct wasn’t acceptable, thieves should know that deadly force could be used against them.
In that warning to the would-be thieves, she said, “I want to thank the Delhi Police Department for their tireless work solving this case. There is simply no justification for shooting at someone as they are running away. However, I want to make perfectly clear – these retail thefts will not be tolerated. If you try to rob a store, you should expect to be shot.”
Beginning its rendition of events, the press release from the prosecutor’s office said, “On October 20, 2023, after 1:00am, Carter and several other suspects arrived at the VIP Smoke Shop located on Delhi Pike. Carter and his accomplices threw rocks through the windows of the store to gain entry.”
Continuing, it described the store manager’s jumping into action and opening fire, saying, “Tony Thacker, the store manager, lived in the back of the store. When he heard the glass break, he came out from the back of the store with a firearm. Thacker saw the suspects, including Amontae Carter and Travis Johnson making entry. Thacker fired multiple shots at the suspects, fatally striking Travis Johnson.”
Then, it described how Thacker kept firing at the suspects after they fled from the smoke shop, including shooting one suspect who was in a stolen car. It said, “As the remaining suspects fled, Thacker ran to the front of the store continued to shoot through the front door as the remaining suspects were fleeing in the stolen cars. Thacker shot Carter as he was seated in the rear of one of stolen cars.”
Next, it described how the store manager and his brother allegedly attempted to hide evidence and that the manager was forbidden from owning a firearm because of a past conviction, saying, “After the suspects were gone, Tony Thacker and his brother Malachi attempted to disable the store’s security system and remove shell casings. Tony Thacker is not permitted to possess a firearm due to a felony juvenile adjudication.”
Mr. Thacker was indicted on eight counts in connection with the fatal shooting. Those counts included five felonious assault charges, a tampering with evidence charge, and two counts of having weapons under disability, with that charge stemming from his not being permitted to possess a firearm due to his felony juvenile adjudication.
Delhi Township Police Chief Jeff Braun told Fox19 Now that Mr. Thacker’s conduct was objectionable because he shot at fleeing suspects, saying, “People have the right to stand their ground and protect themselves if somebody breaks into your home or your business. But as far as when somebody is fleeing away from you — in this case driving away — it’s a little hard to say that you’re obviously protecting yourself on the driving away.”
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