Border Patrol Agent Accused In Killing Makes First Court Appearance
MURRIETA (CBSLA.com) — For the first time, the mother of a man killed in east Hemet last weekend came face-to-face with the U.S. Border Patrol agent accused in the fatal shooting.
John Richard Demery, 40, of Hemet made his first court appearance Thursday in connection with the Nov. 8 fatal shooting of 27-year-old Adam Thomas.
"Even though I wanted to look him in the eye, but I couldn't. I just couldn't stomach it. He took away my baby," said Rhonda Thomas, who is heartsick over the loss of her son. "This shouldn't have happened and it didn't have to happen.'
"This is senseless. Senseless. It's in God's hands now," said Brandon Thomas, the victim's brother.
Demery was chained from the waist down and wore a red jumpsuit reserved for law enforcement officers. He said little during the hearing and answered some of the judge's inquiries.
His attorney and family left the courthouse without comment.
The shooting unfolded on Toledo Drive in Hemet early Saturday morning. The prosecutor's office said a speeding or racing incident may have sparked the deadly confrontation.
"The defendant in this case, Mr. Demery, believed that the vehicles involved in this may have come from the house where the victim was and so he had gone back there to the house to talk to them about that and there was an argument and then the shooting happened shortly after that," said John Hall of the Riverside County district attorney's office.
Thomas' family told CBS2's Tom Wait that he had moved from Washington to Southern California less than a week before the shooting to be closer to them.
"He loved his kids. He loved the outdoors. He loved to fish. He was supposed to come over for a barbeque that night," the victim's brother said.
A Border Patrol spokesperson says Demery works at a station near Murrieta. He will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
Demery, who is being held on $1 million bond, did not enter a plea Thursday. He is expected to return to court Dec. 10.
