Greenbelt Murder Sends Man To Prison: Officials

Bowie MD

25 May, 2021

1:21 PM

Description

GREENBELT, MD — Authorities said a jury on May 17 found Tavon Barnes guilty of murdering Karim Thomas in Greenbelt in 2018. An incident report noted that the jurors convicted Barnes of: First-degree murderUsing a firearm during a crime of violence The write-up added that a judge will sentence Barnes, 19, on Aug. 17. He could spend life plus 20 years in prison, the press release indicated. Officials mentioned that Barnes is also up against four counts of witness intimidation related to the case. He will have a separate trial regarding these accusations in August, prosecutors advised. Barnes could face another 40 years on top of his life sentence if the jury convicts him on all charges, the write-up informed. The report explained that the Greenbelt Police Department found Thomas, 18, shot in his upper chest on April 18, 2018. Officers spotted the victim at the bottom of a stairwell in the 9100 block of Edmonston Road, authorities wrote. Medics pronounced him dead on the scene, the release continued. The prosecution shared that witnesses identified Barnes as the shooter. DNA and gun evidence supported this allegation, officials detailed. Authorities accused Barnes of fleeing to New York, but police arrested and extradited him in February 2019. A grand jury then indicted the suspect, the write-up concluded. "This is a very sad case in which a young man lost his life, before it could even get started," Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy said in the announcement. "My heart goes out to the Thomas family for this terrible loss. I know that nothing can bring Mr. Thomas back, but I pray that you find comfort in knowing that his killer is being held." Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. Download our mobile application from the App Store or Google Play. RELATED: Man Fatally Shot In Annapolis: PolicePolice Identify Homicide Victim In Annapolis: Report Have a story idea? Please contact me at [email protected] with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.