Devon Thomas, Oklahoma State Running Back Recruit, Arrested for Armed Robbery and Shooting With Intent to Kill
ByOklahoma State University (OSU) running back Devon Thomas and three others have been arrested for felony complaints of robbery and firing a weapon with the intent to kill.
According to ESPN, the four young men are accused of robbery at gunpoint and Thomas was identified as the one holding the gun, though he denies his involvement. On Friday, Thomas, an 18-year-old freshman, was moved to Tulsa Jail where he is being held on $125,000 bail.
His arraignment is scheduled June 6, at which time charges could be filed.
The incident took place near Thomas' hometown of Broken Arrow, Okla. Late Wednesday night. The complainants identified Thomas, Eduard Smith, 18, De'Carrio Taylor, 18, and a 17-year-old juvenile, naming the Cowboys' running back as the one brandishing the gun.
Thomas has not played a snap for the Cowboys, but the ESPN 300-ranked running back, a four-star recruit, enrolled at OSU in Jan. and participated in spring practices.
A spokesman for the school did comment except to say authorities are "gathering the facts."
Leon Calhoun, Broken Arrow Police Corp., the victim recalled the suspects stole his marijuana, money, shoes and clothing. After the victim was told to leave, he said Thomas fired a gun at his car and the bullet entered though the rearview windshield and clipped the driver's side headrest. The victim told police he had known the suspects for several years.
Calhoun told ESPN police believe the incident began as a drug deal before turning into armed robbery. Thomas also denied firing the shot, as well as even holding the gun.
Earlier this offseason, the NCAA docked four practice hours per week for the OSU Cowboys, a result from the football team narrowly missing minimum academic progress rate scores, NewsOK.com reported.
The Cowboys needed a score of at least 930 to avoid penalty and the team scored 929.41.