The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top 10 Most Wanted fugitive, Keith Jamar Thomas, 25, of Knoxville, was captured Tuesday night by officers of the Knoxville Police Department.
Thomas was wanted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office for one count of felony murder, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and one count of attempted aggravated robbery.
Officers of the Knoxville Police Department located and arrested Thomas on Tuesday at approximately 9:25 p.m., after receiving a tip. Thomas was taken into custody from a residence on Tarlton Avenue without incident. He was transported to the Knox County jail and will be extradited to the Cocke County jail.
On June 1, 2012, Thomas and another captured fugitive, Rico Sterling, were involved in a robbery at 335 Leaf Way in Newport, Tn. A third individual, James Michael Brewer, 27 of Cosby, Tn. was also present. Brewer went into the residence first and then came outside. Thomas and Sterling went inside the house where a struggle ensued with two victims. The first victim suffered a head injury and was treated and released from the hospital. The second victim died at the scene after sustaining injuries in the struggle.
The TBI opened an investigation at the request of the District Attorney General James Dunn. On Jan. 9, as a result of the TBI investigation and with assistance from the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office, indictments on Sterling and Thomas were returned.