By The newspaper
Thomas Kinworthy Jr., 46, was ordered by Judge Elizabeth Hogan to serve two consecutive life sentences without parole for the August 2020 killing of Officer Tamarris Bohannon after responding to a call about a man who had ordered a family out of their home and barricaded himself inside.
The judge sentenced him on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree assault, adding dozens of years for robbery and other charges. During the crash, the defendant also injured another officer during a confrontation with authorities in the Tower Grove South neighborhood.
“He should be here.”
During the sentencing hearing, Officer Bohannon’s loved ones, including his parents, sister, wife and children, read statements about the impact his death had on them, AP reported.
“He should still be here,” Elizabeth Bohannon said of her son. “He should be here to experience everything life had to offer,” shared the same information agency.
Tiffany Bautista said during the hearing that she learned her brother had been shot in the head shortly after she gave birth to her first child. The couple begged the CEO of a hospital to allow them to leave their 12-hour-old baby to see her brother.
The accused interrupted the prosecutor
Kinworthy contested the case, saying nothing can change the facts surrounding Bohannon’s death or his sentence. He angrily interrupted the prosecutor at times as she read his criminal record during sentencing recommendations, according to AP.
Kinworthy’s attorney said his client was in a psychotic episode on the day of the shooting and that they expect an appeal and a new trial.
Officer Tamarris Bohannon worked for the police department for three and a half years. He responded to an emergency call in which they said a gunman ordered a family out of their home and barricaded himself inside, police said.
Long criminal history
Bohannon was shot in the head and a second officer was hit in the leg. He was the first officer killed in the line of duty in St. Louis since 2011.
Kinworthy has a lengthy criminal history dating back to the 1990s. He was charged with attempted sexual assault and kidnapping, strangling the victim and attempted sexual act. During a search while investigating the case, authorities found several firearms, tactical gear and other items belonging to him, KMOV-TV reported.
With information from AP
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