Deranged Man Admits Crime, States: "I'd do it again."
Murder Suspect Leads Police On Chase With Two Toddlers Laughs, Shoots Witness
Re-printed from a story at KDFW Channel 4 on December 15th 2011
In Texas, a deranged man is led away from a Murder scene laughing at his two randomly chosen victims' deaths.
An Arlington, Texas man faces Murder and Manslaughter charges after allegedly causing two separate crashes and then shooting a witness on Wednesday December 14th 2011.
According to police, 27-year-old Thomas Lester Harper was driving his sport utility vehicle with his two toddlers inside when he caused a three-vehicle wreck on North Collins Street. Arlington police said it all began around 1:30 p.m. as a hit-and-run accident. Moments later, the suspect caused another collision involving eight vehicles at the intersection of North Collins Street and Brown Boulevard in which one unidentified man was killed and was another injured, police said.
A witness stated that the Tahoe "had to be going 100 mph" when it hit the stopped pickup. The suspect then shot and killed an unidentified bystander who approached Harper's Tahoe to help following the second wreck, police said.
18-year-old Clarence “C.J.” Robinson ran to the mangled SUV, where witnesses said Harper was laughing and yelling incoherently. When Robinson approached to help, police said Harper fired his gun at him. Robinson died from the wound to the head.
After being arrested, Thomas Harper was laughing at the scene and happily admitted his involvement to officers on the scene, police said.
Officers also said they recovered a handgun at the scene.
Thomas Harper smashed into 8 vehicles then shot a witness who approached his vehicle to render assistance.
Harper is being held at the Arlington City Jail and faces charges of Murder and Intoxication Manslaughter. His children, a twin boy and girl, were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth.
Today, one of the crash victim's was identified as Najee Nasir, 42, of Arlington, who lived less than a half-mile from the accident scene, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office. The second is reportedly 18-year-old C.J. Robinson, a New Orleans native, who was shot by Harper. Neither men had any previous relationship with the suspect according to authorities.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Arlington police at 817-459-5600 or Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS (8477) to submit an anonymous tip.
UPDATE 03/01/2012
A Tarrant County, Texas judge has granted a request for an Arlington man facing several charges, including homicide, to undergo a competency evaluation to determine if he is psychologically fit to stand trial for a rampage that killed two men.
Thomas Harper, 27, is accused of crashing his vehicle in December 2011, at the intersection of North Collins Street and Brown Boulevard, causing an eight-car wreck, killing another driver and then shooting a good Samaritan who ran to the crash scene to provide assistance.
Ezekiel Tyson, Jr., Harper's attorney, requested the competency evaluation to establish his client's general mental state. The evaluation will not address his specific mental state on the day of the incident, however.
References:
KDFW Channel 4 Groping suspect shot by officer on subway
KDFW Channel 4, Groping suspect shot by officer on subway
Star Telegram, 'Ranting' Tahoe driver didn't know his two victims
Re-printed from a story at KDFW Channel 4 on December 15th 2011
In Texas, a deranged man is led away from a Murder scene laughing at his two randomly chosen victims' deaths.
An Arlington, Texas man faces Murder and Manslaughter charges after allegedly causing two separate crashes and then shooting a witness on Wednesday December 14th 2011.
According to police, 27-year-old Thomas Lester Harper was driving his sport utility vehicle with his two toddlers inside when he caused a three-vehicle wreck on North Collins Street. Arlington police said it all began around 1:30 p.m. as a hit-and-run accident. Moments later, the suspect caused another collision involving eight vehicles at the intersection of North Collins Street and Brown Boulevard in which one unidentified man was killed and was another injured, police said.
A witness stated that the Tahoe "had to be going 100 mph" when it hit the stopped pickup. The suspect then shot and killed an unidentified bystander who approached Harper's Tahoe to help following the second wreck, police said.
18-year-old Clarence “C.J.” Robinson ran to the mangled SUV, where witnesses said Harper was laughing and yelling incoherently. When Robinson approached to help, police said Harper fired his gun at him. Robinson died from the wound to the head.
After being arrested, Thomas Harper was laughing at the scene and happily admitted his involvement to officers on the scene, police said.
Officers also said they recovered a handgun at the scene.
Thomas Harper smashed into 8 vehicles then shot a witness who approached his vehicle to render assistance.
Harper is being held at the Arlington City Jail and faces charges of Murder and Intoxication Manslaughter. His children, a twin boy and girl, were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth.
Today, one of the crash victim's was identified as Najee Nasir, 42, of Arlington, who lived less than a half-mile from the accident scene, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office. The second is reportedly 18-year-old C.J. Robinson, a New Orleans native, who was shot by Harper. Neither men had any previous relationship with the suspect according to authorities.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Arlington police at 817-459-5600 or Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS (8477) to submit an anonymous tip.
UPDATE 03/01/2012
A Tarrant County, Texas judge has granted a request for an Arlington man facing several charges, including homicide, to undergo a competency evaluation to determine if he is psychologically fit to stand trial for a rampage that killed two men.Thomas Harper, 27, is accused of crashing his vehicle in December 2011, at the intersection of North Collins Street and Brown Boulevard, causing an eight-car wreck, killing another driver and then shooting a good Samaritan who ran to the crash scene to provide assistance.
Ezekiel Tyson, Jr., Harper's attorney, requested the competency evaluation to establish his client's general mental state. The evaluation will not address his specific mental state on the day of the incident, however.
References:
KDFW Channel 4 Groping suspect shot by officer on subway
KDFW Channel 4, Groping suspect shot by officer on subway
Star Telegram, 'Ranting' Tahoe driver didn't know his two victims
