$1 million cash bail for Kenneth Thomas, accused in fatal shooting at Waukesha Citgo gas station
WAUKESHA COUNTY (WITI) -- Bail has been set at $1 million cash for 19-year-old Kenneth Thomas -- the man believed to have pulled the trigger inside the Citgo gas station near Whiterock and E. Moreland Boulevard in Waukesha last week -- killing 65-year-old clerk Saeed Sharwani. Thomas was officially charged Monday, January 19th, and made his initial court appearance in Waukesha County. This, as police continue to search for a third suspect in this case.
Kenneth Thomas
Kenneth Thomas, a convicted felon, faces the following felony charges:
23-year-old Jerica Cotton, believed to be the getaway driver, has been charged with two felonies: felony murder-armed robbery and armed robbery. Cotton's bail has been set at $250,000 cash.
Jerica Cotton
The criminal complaint filed against Kenneth Thomas and Jerica Cotton makes reference to two other armed robberies in which shots were fired.
On January 7th, two suspects entered the County Beer and Liquor store on S. 60th Street in West Allis. Two rounds were fired -- one at the clerk, and another at the ceiling, according to the complaint.
Two 9mm shell casings were recovered from this scene.
On January 10th, shots were fired at the 7-Eleven on West Bluemound Road in the Town of Brookfield. Four 9mm shell casings were recovered at the scene.
Surveillance video from that incident showed two male suspects entering the 7-Eleven, with both suspects pointing guns at the clerk.
One round was fired at the clerk, police say.
The complaint says the clerk told police he observed both suspects enter a waiting vehicle following the robbery.
Three days later, police were called out to the Citgo gas station at Whiterock Avenue and E. Moreland Boulevard, after a caller dialed 911 and hung up. There, they found 65-year-old Saeed Sharwani with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Sharwani was unable to talk, but when asked how many people were there, he reportedly held up two fingers.
He was taken to the hospital, where he died.
Suspect in armed robbery, homicide at Waukesha gas station
Based on surveillance video from inside the Citgo gas station, two men entered the store wearing Halloween masks -- and one produced a handgun. Sharwani confronted the armed suspect and the suspect shot Sharwani in the chest — before the two suspects fled the store.
At the scene, police located a spent 9mm shell casing.
Through an analysis, police were able to determine the shell casings from the robbery in West Allis, the robbery in the Town of Brookfield and the fatal shooting in Waukesha came from the same gun.
On January 14th, MPD executed a search warrant on West Washington Avenue in West Allis -- and a green mask and 9mm handgun were recovered.
Kenneth Thomas was one of six people detained as that search warrant was being executed.
Police reviewed surveillance video from a nearby saloon, which showed two men and one woman exiting a residence on Washington Avenue in West Allis on the night of the fatal shooting in Waukesha. The men were seen wearing clothing similar to what was seen in surveillance video from inside the Citgo gas station. When they returned to the residence, they were not wearing their coats or hats, the complaint says.
Police interviewed Jerica Cotton -- believed to be the getaway driver.
On the night of the shooting, Cotton told police she was advised of some men needing a ride. She told police she was informed she would receive gas money.
They drove to the Citgo gas station in Waukesha, and Cotton says she was told to park. Eventually, the men returned to the vehicle -- and one of them said: "I just shot the dude," according to the complaint.
Eventually, they returned to the residence in West Allis, and Cotton told police she "dumped" the jackets and hats the men were wearing in a dumpster in Milwaukee.
Cotton also told police she drove the men to the Town of Brookfield earlier in January. She told police it is "in her nature to help people" -- and that she agreed to give them rides "to be helpful."
Police spoke with Kenneth Thomas, and they say he initially denied his involvement in any of the robberies -- saying Darrin Malone and another man put the evidence in his apartment.
Eventually, Thomas told police he and Malone had agreed to go to Waukesha on the night of the fatal shooting. They went to the Citgo gas station, and Thomas told police the clerk "started freaking out, and so did he."
Thomas told police the shooting occurred when "the clerk grabbed him" saying "the next thing he knew, the gun went off." Thomas told police his finger was on the trigger, but he thought the safety was on the gun.
Thomas told police when he got home, he noticed the gun's safety was off, according to the complaint.
That handgun was eventually located in a diaper box at Thomas' apartment as the search warrant was executed.
During his interview with police, Thomas asked for a cigarette, and a detective who was interviewing him left the room to look for cigarettes. Via a video monitor, Thomas was heard saying "I am going to do the right thing." He was then seen reaching into his pants and pulling out money -- totaling $540, taken during the Waukesha robbery/shooting, according to the complaint.
Thomas also admitted to robbing a bank in Milwaukee, and a liquor store, a gas station and a store in West Allis.
Thomas has a felony conviction for taking and driving a vehicle without consent, filed in Milwaukee County in 2012.
Darrin Malone
The search continues for 28-year-old Darrin Malone -- believed to be the second man involved in the incident. Malone has known ties to Waukesha, police say.
The owner of the Citgo gas station has offered up to a $5,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of the third suspect in this case -- Darrin Malone.
Malone should be considered armed and extremely dangerous — anyone with information regarding his whereabouts are asked to call the Waukesha Police Department at 262-524-3820.
Meanwhile -- the Taco Johns restaurant on N. Grand Avenue in Waukesha is organizing a fundraiser to benefit Sharwani's family. On Saturday, January 24th, 10% of sales will go to Sharwani's family.
"It's a great community, so it was a little mind-boggling that something so close would happen. It kind of got to me. As a community, I feel it is kinda my job and our obligation to kind of give back to the community, so that's kind of what I'm going for," Taco Johns General Manager Nate Borchard said.
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