Brevard County

Cocoa mom seeks to solve son’s cold case murder three years later

COCOA, Fla. — A Cocoa mom is hoping to generate new leads in the unsolved murder of her son.

Jonte Thomas was found fatally shot at the corner of Mitchell and Pineda streets three years ago.

Thomas’ mother and other family and friends gathered to post a memorial sign in his honor in the hopes that keeping his name on the minds of Cocoa residents will help generate leads in the case.

Read: Police: Woman, 18, arrested in fatal shooting of boy, 17, at Orlando hotel

“He was a happy-go-lucky person,” said Thomas’ mother, Anita Gibson. “He lived his on his terms.”

Thomas, 37, was shot while driving to his home with friends. The shooting happened in December of 2016 and Thomas clung to life until May 1 of 2017.

Cocoa police said Thomas was in a white Impala with two other friends. Detectives were able to obtain video which appears to show three shots being fired from a white Nissan Altima or Maxima, but aren’t sure who pulled the trigger.

Read: Teen shot, killed at Orlando apartment complex, police say

“I know because of the fear factor, and the no snitching policy of our culture - that somebody knows,” said Gibson. “The family knows, the friends know.”

Thomas was the father of three children.

Anyone with information that can help solve the case is asked to contact the Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.


Steve Barrett

Steve Barrett, WFTV.com

Reporter Steve Barrett returned to WFTV in mid-2017 after 18 months in the Twin Cities, where he worked as Vice President of Communications for an Artificial Intelligence software firm aligned with IBM.