A Michigan man said “I’m not sorry” after a bloodthirsty outburst that saw him shoot his ex in broad daylight as she left the nursing home where she worked, prosecutors have said.
Barry Garza, 58, is accused of killing 40-year-old Amber Jo Thomas by shooting her in the neck as she walked to her car in the parking lot of Linden Square Assisted Living Center in Saline around 11:30am on Thursday.
Thomas reportedly had a personal protection order (PPO) against Garza, saying he had stated his intention to kill her “several times” and that she was “afraid” for her safety. It was granted on July 28, but had not yet been served.
Garza also allegedly shot and wounded a 67-year-old male acquaintance of Thomas who had been walking alongside her on Thursday, before fleeing in a tan Ford Focus which he then “deliberately” crashed into another vehicle.
The “dearly loved” senior caregiver and mother-to-one Thomas, of Adrian, Lenawee County, died of her injuries at the University of Michigan Hospital, while her acquaintance survived.
Amber Jo Thomas, 40, was shot by her ex in broad daylight as she left the Michigan nursing home where she worked Thursday afternoon, prosecutors say
Barry Garza, 58, has pleaded not guilty to one count of open murder, one count of assault with intent to kill and one count of gun misdemeanor
‘Dearly loved’ senior caregiver and mother-to-one Thomas, of Adrian, Lenawee County, died of her injuries at University of Michigan Hospital
In a court hearing on Saturday, Garza pleaded not guilty to one count of open murder, one count of assault with intent to murder and one count of misdemeanor firearm.
Prosecutor Jessica Blanch described the alleged assault outside the care home where Thomas worked at 650 Woodland Drive.
“He came to work, shot her in the neck and then shot a male victim who was near her,” Blanch told the court.
“He got into his car and fled from the scene and the police. He purposefully crashed his car into another vehicle, ending the flight.
“He made horrible statements on the spot that showed his intent, like ‘I’m not sorry I killed that son of a bitch'”.
Blanch called Garza “an absolute threat to this community” and a “flight risk” before being denied bail.
Magistrate Tamara Garwood described the case as “devastating” and highlighted how the 67-year-old man Garza allegedly shot could also have died – along with others involved in the car accident he caused.
Saline Police Department said officers were called to the Linden Square Assisted Living Center parking lot at 11:35 a.m. Thursday, where they found Thomas and her boyfriend with gunshot wounds.
By the time they arrived, Garza had reportedly fled in his Ford.
Multiple police departments were called in to pursue him, and a Washtenaw County deputy sheriff found that his vehicle had crashed into another vehicle on S Ann Arbor and Willis Road.
Police said Garza did not comply with their demands and was tasered, while the driver of the second vehicle was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Our condolences go out to the family and friends of all victims involved in this needless tragedy,” said Saline PD.
“Amber Jo Thomas, you will be remembered and we will do everything we can to get justice for you and your family.”
Thomas reportedly issued a personal protection order against Garza, which had been issued on July 28 but had not yet been served
Thomas was issued a PPO against Garza just a week before she died, saying he had expressed an intention to kill her “several times” and that she was “afraid” for her safety
Friends paid tribute to Thomas – who leaves behind her parents, three brothers and a son – saying in her obituary that she loved “gardening, planting flowers and her dogs (fur babies)”
Thomas was given public office against Garza just a week before she died The Detroit News.
“He has physically harmed me so many times before,” she wrote in her PPO filing.
‘I’m afraid. He stated several times that he was going to kill me.’
Garza will next appear in court on August 17 at 9 a.m. for a conference on probable causes.
Friends paid tribute to Thomas – who leaves behind her parents, three brothers and a son – saying in her obituary that she loved “gardening, planting flowers and her dogs (fur babies).”
“Amber also enjoyed being on the lake, camping, and sitting around a bonfire with her family and friends,” the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home obituary says.
“She currently worked at Linden Square Assisted Living in Saline, MI and was well loved by all the residents.”