BLUEFIELD, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A shooting that began as an arranged confrontation in the parking lot of Brushfork Elementary School has turned deadly, with one man now dead and a suspect facing a second-degree murder charge.
According to the West Virginia State Police, troopers responded at approximately 8:56 p.m. on June 26 after Mercer County 911 received reports of shots fired. Although the initial call listed a residence on Charcoal Street, dispatchers later determined the shooting had occurred in the parking lot of Brushfork Elementary School on Brushfork School Road.
When troopers arrived, everyone involved had already left the scene. Neighbors told investigators they heard multiple gunshots followed by vehicles speeding away. While no shell casings were immediately located, troopers found what appeared to be blood in the parking lot.
A short time later, troopers learned that Bluefield Regional Medical Center’s emergency department had admitted a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers responded to the hospital, where they located the victims and examined the vehicle they had arrived in.
Investigators found three bullet holes in the front passenger side of the vehicle and documented the damage. The gunshot victim was later transferred to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for advanced medical treatment.
According to witnesses, the suspects were identified as Terrence Shade Thomas, Terrence Charles Thomas, and Bradley Scott Billings. The victims told investigators they had received threatening messages before being instructed to meet at the school to fight.
When they arrived, witnesses said they saw Terrence Shade Thomas standing in the parking lot holding a handgun. The victims told troopers they attempted to leave the area, but multiple shots were fired at their vehicle. One of the passengers, Dawlton Blankenship, was struck in the head.
State Police quickly began tracking down the suspects.
Troopers first searched a residence associated with Terrence Charles Thomas but found no one inside. However, they seized a cellphone found outside the home and towed a white Ford F-350 after observing what appeared to be blood on the front of the vehicle.
Investigators later located Terrence Shade Thomas at a residence on Mountain View Drive in Princeton, where he was taken into custody without incident. Terrence Charles Thomas also arrived at the residence and was arrested. A third suspect, Bradley Billings, was not located despite troopers searching for him.
During an interview after waiving his Miranda rights, Terrence Shade Thomas admitted he, his father, and Billings had gone to Brushfork Elementary School intending to fight the victims, according to the criminal complaint.
Thomas told investigators the victims began pulling out brass knuckles and hammers, prompting him to retrieve a pistol from his truck. He claimed the victims then attempted to run over his father with their vehicle, leading him to fire multiple shots at the truck. He admitted one of those shots struck Blankenship in the head.
Thomas also told investigators he handed the firearm to his father after the shooting.
After requesting an attorney, Terrence Charles Thomas agreed to lead troopers to the weapon. Investigators recovered a Taurus 9mm handgun along Dawson School Road in Bluefield.
On the morning of June 28, troopers were notified by Blankenship’s family that doctors at Roanoke Memorial Hospital had determined his injuries were not survivable and planned to remove him from life support.
Hospital officials later confirmed Blankenship died at 8:24 a.m. on June 28 from injuries sustained in the shooting.
Following his death, investigators sought and obtained a warrant charging
with second-degree murder.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be possible. All charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
