OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY

By DENNIS W. WARD

STATE ATTORNEY

PLANTATION KEY, APRIL 25, 2018 — A Key West man is looking at spending the rest of his life in prison following his conviction Wednesday on a charge of attempting to kill a Florida Keys police officer.

A six-person jury convicted Timothy Eugene Thomas, 27, of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer stemming from a shootout on Stock Island on Oct. 24, 2015, in which then-Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joshua Gordon was shot in the chest. Gordon, now a deputy with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in North Florida, was saved by his bullet-proof vest.

The jury also convicted Thomas of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and burglary of a dwelling armed with a firearm, both felonies; and petit theft, a misdemeanor. Sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m.May24 in Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Luis Garcia’s court.

The armed-burglary conviction carries a possible life sentence. Fleeing and eluding is punishable by up to 15 years.

“I’m extremely happy Deputy Gordon has the justice we’ve been waiting for,” said Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Colleen Dunne, prosecuting the case with Assistant State Attorney Gail Conolly.

The night of Oct. 24, 2015, Key West police put out a be-on-the-lookout notice for a black Mustang. Gordon saw the car heading out of the city and followed it north on U.S. 1, according to testimony. The driver turned right onto MacDonald Avenue and Gordon continued to follow planning to make a traffic stop because the Mustang had a reported stolen license plate attached.

At one point, the Mustang driver, Thomas, turned out the lights on the car and tried to speed away, according to a police dash camera. Gordon then activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued. The pursuit ended when Thomas crashed into a stop sign at 3rd Street.

At trial, prosecutors Dunne and Conolly presented dash video showing Thomas opening the driver’s door of the Mustang and raising his left hand while looking at Gordon. Gordon shouted commands at Thomas, who then, the video shows, lowered himself back into the car. He quickly re-emerged with a handgun and started shooting at Gordon, who then shot back. One of Thomas’ bullets struck Gordon in the chest, but a trauma plate inserted into his vest blocked the bullet. Evidence presented at trial included the vest with the hole caused by the .38-caliber bullet.

Sheriff’s Office Deputy David Lariz had arrived as backup and Thomas, back inside the Mustang, then was able to dislodge the car from where it crashed and sped off. Gordon and Lariz pursued after gathering equipment from the ground. The Mustang was found a few blocks away, abandoned.

The next day, Oct. 25, 2015, Key West Police Detective Darnell Seally received a tip about Thomas’ location and after negotiating a surrender, Thomas was arrested at a house on Von Phister Street in Key West. Two guns, including a .9 mm Glock, were found under the house. The burglary conviction is for illegally entering that house.

“A couple of years ago, a man with evil and cowardly intentions attempted to murder me for performing my duties as a sworn law enforcement officer,” Gordon said. “Thankfully I was able to survive this incident due to being provided the proper equipment, training and mindset. I was not only able to continue my career as a law enforcement officer, but most importantly continue as a husband and father,” Gordon said.

“My family and I would like to thank the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Key West Police Department, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office team led by Colleen Dunne, citizens of the Florida Keys and all the others that have supported my family before, during and after this incident. It was an honor and privilege to protect and serve the citizens of Monroe County as a professional law enforcement officer during my family’s time here.

“As this incident nears its closure for our family, let us not forget the fallen law enforcement officers of the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas Police Department and all other law enforcement officers that that have paid the ultimate price while protecting and serving their communities,” Gordon said.

Thomas’ defense attorneys, Kevin McCarthy and Jason Smith, had argued Thomas shot Gordon in self-defense, claiming Gordon started firing first.

Contact: Public Information Officer Larry Kahn, (305) 289-2899.

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