Murder suspect bares all
A man who taunted police officers at a West Virginia casino wearing only a hat and shoes has also been charged with the first-degree murder of his father.
taken into custody for public nudity
According to reports, Thomas Jeffrey Lawson Jr., 33, who was taken into custody for public nudity inside Mardi Gras Casino and charged, was arraigned late Sunday at Kanawha County Magistrate Court for the murder of Thomas Lawson Sr.
McDowell County Sheriff’s Office Detective Randall Johnson Jr cited a criminal complaint stating Lawson Jr. shot and killed Thomas on Saturday, with his clothes-shedding episode taking place in the early hours of Sunday.
Bizarre behavior
Officer Johnson said the suspect had been at the casino since about 5:30 p.m on Saturday. Reports stated he was a regular patron of the casino in Nitro City and had a “severe gambling addiction.”
At around 1:00am, Lawson Jr. emerged from a Mardi Gras bathroom “wearing only a hat and shoes.”
tackled after he attempted to flee
The suspect walked up to Nitro Police Department (NPD) officers working security ”made an obscene gesture, shouted an obscenity” before being tackled after he attempted to flee the casino.
Thomas’ body was found after a family member called 911 at 10.30pm on Saturday concerned for his whereabouts. A call from the 911 operators in McDowell County to law enforcement in Kanawha County revealed the suspect was already in custody.
History of altercations
Text messages between the son and his father revealed, according to Detective Johnson, that the pair had planned to meet and cut trees. The victim’s wife knew of the tree cutting appointment and stated her husband was afraid of his son and was “just trying to be a good dad,” and that the pair had a history of physical altercations.
Investigators stated a chainsaw was found near the deceased and that he was shot “at least six times in the back and the back of the head.”
Lawson Jr. is being held at a Charlestown correctional facility without bond.
