Morehouse College Associate AD on Leave After Shooting

Morehouse College associate athletic director Phillip Thomas is on administrative leave after authorities say he shot two people.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that Thomas, the 51-year-old associated AD and director of football operations, was booked into the Fulton County Jail in May on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was booked into jail May 20 and released May 22 on $15,000 bond.

The incident report and arrest warrants show that the shooting occurred May 15 outside a home in northwest Atlanta. Two men were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds before police officers were called to the home around midnight.

A witness said that Thomas and two others were arguing about “fraternity issues,” which led to a fight.

“After the two gentlemen separated, people started to disperse from inside the house,” the police report reads, according to the Journal-Constitution. “The victim proceeded (to) walk outside and enter a vehicle. The witness stated she overheard the suspect state he was going to shoot the victim.”

Witnesses reported that one of the men got out of a Mercedes SUV and ran toward Thomas, with one witness saying the man had his hands in clear view when he said, “you’re going to have to shoot me.”

“This prompted the suspect to discharge his weapon at the (man) striking him in his stomach,” the report reads, noting that one .40-caliber shell casing was found at the scene. The shot reportedly went through the first man and hit a second in the leg.

Another witness had said that Thomas had grabbed his gun, loaded it, covered it with a towel and “waited” for the man to approach him before firing.

Thomas told officers that the victim had one hand behind his back as he charged and threatened to kill Thomas.

Both shooting victims were transported to the hospital, with witnesses reporting that Thomas picked up the unintentional victim and put him in a car.