Life Sentence for Thomas Kinworthy Jr.
A man convicted of killing a St. Louis police officer in 2020 was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday. Judge Elizabeth Hogan ordered Thomas Kinworthy Jr., 46, to serve two consecutive life sentences for first-degree murder and first-degree assault, along with additional years for burglary and other related charges.
Conviction and Mandatory Life Imprisonment
Earlier this month, a jury convicted Kinworthy of first-degree murder in connection to the August 2020 death of Officer Tamarris Bohannon, 29. The conviction mandates life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Kinworthy was also found guilty of first-degree assault for shooting a second officer in the leg during the incident.
Incident Details
Officer Bohannon, who had served with the St. Louis Police Department for 3 1/2 years, responded to a call after an armed man, identified as Kinworthy, ordered a family out of their home and barricaded himself inside. During the response, Bohannon was shot in the head and another officer was shot in the leg as they searched for another reportedly injured individual.
Impact Statements from Family
During the sentencing, Bohannon’s loved ones, including his parents, sister, wife, and children, read emotional statements about the profound impact of his death. His mother, Elizabeth Bohannon, expressed her grief, saying, “He should still be here. He should be here to experience all that life had to offer him.”
Tiffany Bautista, Bohannon’s sister, shared the emotional turmoil she experienced, having learned about her brother’s shooting shortly after giving birth to her first child. She recounted how she and her husband had to plead with a hospital CEO to leave her newborn to see her brother.
Defense and Future Appeals
Kinworthy, who disputed the case, maintained that nothing could change the events surrounding Bohannon’s death or his subsequent sentencing. During the sentencing recommendations, he angrily interrupted the prosecutor as she reviewed his criminal history. His attorney argued that Kinworthy was suffering from a psychotic episode on the day of the shooting. The defense team has expressed intentions to appeal the conviction and hope for a retrial.
