By Palm Beach and Broward Mugshots
BELLE GLADE, Fla. — A Palm Beach County man has been convicted and sentenced in connection with a deadly drive-by shooting that ended the life of a young girl and endangered numerous others, authorities said.
Andrew James Thomas Jr., now 25, was sentenced on July 28, 2023, following his role in the February 4, 2022 shooting that left one child dead and multiple victims targeted by gunfire.
According to investigators with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting unfolded after deputies responded to a ShotSpotter alert indicating dozens of rounds had been fired in a residential neighborhood. When deputies arrived, they found a young girl suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. She was transported to a hospital, where she later died. The death was ruled a homicide.
Authorities said at least 13 children were present outside the home at the time of the shooting. Evidence showed the gunfire came from a distance, with suspects firing repeatedly toward the residence.
Through surveillance footage and witness statements, detectives identified a silver four-door sedan linked to the shooting. The vehicle was seen circling the area moments before the gunfire, suggesting the location had been targeted.
Investigators later tied the vehicle to Thomas and connected it to a prior shooting just days earlier. Forensic analysis confirmed that shell casings from both incidents were fired from the same firearm.
Witnesses told detectives that Thomas admitted involvement in the shooting, describing it as retaliation for an earlier incident.
During the investigation, law enforcement tracked Thomas to a residence in Coral Springs associated with social media personalities Kodiyakredd and Flyysoulja, known collectively as the Island Boys. A SWAT team executed a search warrant at the home, where Thomas was taken into custody.
Authorities said Thomas attempted to move through the residence as officers entered, allegedly trying to conceal evidence. During the search, detectives recovered a semi-automatic handgun consistent with the weapon used in the shooting.
Cell phone data further placed Thomas in the area at the time of the shooting and showed movement consistent with leaving the area afterward.
At the time, Thomas was on felony probation and prohibited from possessing firearms.
Conviction and Sentence
Court records show Thomas was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted second-degree murder.
He was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the murder charge, along with multiple 20-year sentences for the attempted murder counts. Additional sentences were imposed in related cases, including charges for robbery with a firearm and resisting or obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Thomas is currently in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections and housed at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution under close custody.
His current projected release date is January 26, 2067, according to inmate records. Officials note that release dates are subject to change based on gain time or other factors.
The case remains a stark example of the dangers of retaliatory gun violence, particularly in residential neighborhoods where children are present.
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