Navy veteran s widow testifies she saw no sign of danger before VA officer shot her husband to death stripes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stripes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By SARAH REESE | The Times | Published: January 29, 2021 CROWN POINT, Ind. (Tribune News Service) A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs police officer pleaded not guilty Friday to a murder charge in the shooting death of a Lowell-area military veteran. Timothy R. Thomas, 40, appeared via videoconference before Lake Criminal Court Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan with his attorney Ben Murphy. Sullivan entered a not guilty plea on Thomas behalf, and Murphy said Thomas would waive his right to a formal appearance before Judge Salvador Vasquez. Thomas is accused of murdering Nicholas Lile, a Merrillville native and a 22-year U.S. Navy veteran who served as a corpsman attached to a U.S. Marines battalion on seven combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Attorneys for Timothy R. Thomas, 40, of Highland, filed a petition to let bond in the case.
Thomas is accused of murdering Nicholas Lile, a Merrillville native and a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who served as a corpsman attached to a U.S. Marines battalion on seven combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thomas told police he shot Lile to death in the basement of Lile s home outside Lowell in self-defense. Lile s family disputed Thomas version of events.
Thomas initially was charged with voluntary manslaughter, a level 2 felony, and released from jail Jan. 5 after posting a $5,000 cash bond. He was taken back into custody Wednesday and will be held in jail until a court decides whether to grant his petition for bond.
By SARAH REESE | The Times | Published: January 28, 2021 CROWN POINT, Ind. (Tribune News Service) A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officer was being held without bond Thursday after prosecutors filed an upgraded charge of murder against him in the Jan. 3 shooting death of a 42-year-old military veteran near Lowell. Attorneys for Timothy R. Thomas, 40, of Highland, filed a petition to let bond in the case. Thomas is accused of murdering Nicholas Lile, a Merrillville native and a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who served as a corpsman attached to a U.S. Marines battalion on seven combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
VA officer makes 1st court appearance on upgraded murder charge nwitimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nwitimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.