The Antelope Valley Times

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Lancaster man to stand trial for dog owner’s murder

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[L to R] Defendant Demonte Thomas and suspect Michael Davis.
[L to R] Defendant Demonte Thomas and victim Michael Davis.
LANCASTER – A Lancaster man, who allegedly struck a dog with his car and then shot the animal’s owner after being asked to pay for the injured canine’s veterinary care, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a murder charge.

Demonte Antone Thomas, 28, is charged in the killing of 22-year-old Michael Davis.

The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2015, in the parking lot of the Sierra Villa Apartments on the 600 block of East Avenue H-14 in Lancaster.

Thomas allegedly struck Davis’ dog with a car, then pulled out a handgun and shot the young man  upon being asked to pay for the vet bill, according to testimony presented at an Aug. 1 hearing in which Thomas was ordered to stand trial.

Thomas, who has been jailed in lieu of $3 million bail since his Jan. 3 arrest, is due back in a Lancaster courtroom Oct. 5 for a pretrial hearing.

He could face up to 40 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Previous related stories:

Suspect ID’d in Lancaster shooting death, public’s help sought

Community leaders condemn senseless violence

Man shot to death in Lancaster

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

15 comments for "Lancaster man to stand trial for dog owner’s murder"

  1. I would like to say this i am Michael’s mother and i appreciate all the people that have emphathy for me and my family and to irritated i dont know who u are but ty Michael didnt deserve what happen to him that faithful day and people should really think twice before they press enter on thier keyboards regardless to the fact a son brother father and man was gunned down senselessly and lets pray that this does not happen to you or your family its easy to knock something till its at your doorstep.. Today i stood beside another mother as she grieved for her son that was murdered on this past Saturday…when will people wake up and stop the violence they say #blacklivesmatter no #alllivesmatter

  2. Hope he gets 40 years, would have been cheaper to pay vet bill, plus have your freedom back, price are idiots and it is getting worse, this world is going under real fast..

  3. Reporters never tell the whole story, or they change it ..I see it all the time , happened to me personally a few years back..story was reversed in the paper of what really went down..stupid.they had it completely backwards, or its just what the officers wanted cuz they knew they were wrong

    • THATS ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED THERE IS WITNESSES SO GET YA FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE U ASSUME I AM MICHAEL’S MOTHER

  6. Please tell the whole story. You forgot to put the part where Thomas left the area, then came back an waited for David to return and then shot him to death.

      • Listen Phillygirl, stop speaking on things you know nothing about, grow up. Noone wins in this and your comments are very ignorant and really don’t matter, someone died and someone is fighting for their life for something they did not do. Keep your comments to yourself if you weren’t there, keep your comments to yourself and for you speaking the way you have they should give you 40 years and throw away the key and once again ALL LIVES MATTER… Big LT.

      • Rusty Shackleford I am smart enough to know it is a follow up and I do not need to read the original story…I know what happened That night plays in my head more then you would think.This was my friend who was murdered…so No I will not cool my jets and worry about better things. Being Petty…only when need be.

        • My condolences to the mother of her fallen son, but let’s be clear, I know Demonte Thomas, and he did not, and I repeat, he did not kill Michael Davis over a dog…Michael’s mom is in a lot of pain but let’s be clear ; Michael Davis was no angel…trust me!! And people should get their facts straight before condemning another black man , we are not jury or judge and we are surely not God. Demonte Thomas is a good father and you can not condemn someone based on street stories. Just like Michael Davis unfortunately lost his life Demonte Thomas is fighting for his life, there are no winners in this, people should keep their comments to themselves because it is not going to bring Michael back and it is not going to let Demonte out of jail. If we had more black fathers in these homes it would be less murders in these streets. My deepest sympathy for Michaels’s mom and family, but please stop commenting on things you know nothing about, a man lost his life and now a man with children is now fighting for his life. Be clear : ALL LIVES MATTER…