A Burke County suspect who was found hanging in his jail cell has died at the hospital, authorities said.
Quilton Patrick Thomas died Thursday night at Augusta University Medical Center, according to Burke County Chief Deputy Lewis C. Blanchard. He was 34.
Thomas – known as “Neighborhood Pat” to friends and family – is the suspect who was injured during last week’s shootout with officers in Burke County. He was shot on Aug. 18 outside his home on 809 Washington Drive.
He recovered and was taken to the Burke County Jail, where he then tried to hang himself Wednesday afternoon. He had just been placed in the medical holding cell.
A Burke County Sheriff’s Office press release tells what happened:
Mr. Thomas had on a cast and sling as required for his medical treatment and was awaiting prescriptions to be delivered and to be checked by nurse prior to detention center placement.
Video footage outside the cell show that he was checked on twice without incident and was being checked on when the correctional officer observed him hanging at approximately 4:45pm. The officer obtained assistance, cut Mr. Thomas down and a responding Deputy Sheriff started CPR prior to the arrival of EMS.
Burke County EMA arrived quickly and transported Mr. Thomas to Burke Medical Center for initial treatment and he has since been transferred to Augusta University Medical Center.
The District Attorney’s Office was notified and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was contacted to conduct the investigation. Sheriff Williams has notified a family member of the incident.
Original Press Release from GBI Regarding Shootout:
On Friday, August 18, 2017, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the Waynesboro Police Department 911 Center received a call advising an individual drove by shooting at a residence on Kingston Drive in Waynesboro, Georgia. Waynesboro Police Department Officers responded to the call. While on scene, witnesses identified Quilton Patrick Thomas, 34 years old, as the individual driving a white Ford Crown Victoria and the individual shooting on Kingston Drive.
A description of Thomas’ vehicle was given to the Waynesboro Police 911 Center and a BOLO (Be On Look Out) was provided to Officers. Waynesboro Police Officer’s responded to Quilton Patrick Thomas’ residence, which is located at 809 Washington Drive and observed Thomas’ white Ford Crown Victoria in the backyard of his residence. Waynesboro Police Officers attempted to get Thomas to the door but were unsuccessful. Waynesboro Police Officers called a wrecker to have the vehicle towed.
While located at the residence, Thomas began shooting at officers from inside his home and then attempted to leave in a Waynesboro Police Department patrol vehicle, which was parked outside of Thomas’ residence. Officer’s returned fire striking Thomas. No officers were injured.
Thomas was transported to Augusta University Medical Center in Augusta, where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
At approximately 1:50 p.m., the GBI was requested to assist the Waynesboro Police Department with the Officer Involved Shooting and the Drive by Shooting Incident. Criminal charges against Thomas are pending. The GBI will conduct a thorough investigation concerning this incident and upon completion will turn the completed case file over to the Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for their review. The Burke County Sheriff’ Office and the Augusta Judicial District Attorney’s Office assisted with this investigation.
For more crime news, pick up this week’s edition of The Jail Report.
