Trio indicted for killing canine stabber

A Jefferson County grand jury indicted three Port Arthur men for the murder of a 20-year-old man, who himself was indicted a year prior for stabbing a dog 13 times.

Charles Ray Moss III, 21; Jakobi Damond Broussard, 20; and Arthur Small Jr., 18; were charged with murder for their alleged culpability in the murder of Christopher Lionel Thomas Jr. 

According to a probable cause affidavit penned by PAPD Detective L. Thomas, dispatch sent officers to the 400 block of W. 53rd Street Feb. 18 in reference to a “subject down in the canal.” Upon arrival, officers located Thomas and, according to the affidavit, “were unable to determine the cause of death.”

Later that evening, a witness called and stated he saw Thomas being shot. The witness stated that he was in the area when he witnessed a fight between Thomas and “Trey.” Thomas left the scene after the fight, but returned a short time later.

“As the subjects were leaving, they stopped their vehicle upon seeing Thomas,” detectives wrote. According to detectives, Moss, Broussard and Small, “exited said vehicle and approached Thomas. The witness said he then heard gunshots and no longer saw Thomas.”

After the shots were fired, the subjects ran back to the vehicle and left the scene. A citizen found Thomas’ body the next morning. 

At press time, Moss, Broussard and Small were all at the Jefferson County jail on $1 million bonds.

According to information from the District Attorney's Office, Thomas is no stranger to committing violent acts, himself. In another crime approximately a year before his murder, Thomas allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s dog 13 times. According to the indictment, Feb. 28, 2021, Thomas allegedly approached his ex-girlfriend’s home to use the bathroom. Upon being allowed inside, Thomas repeatedly stabbed the woman’s dog. An ER veterinarian told officers the dog was “extremely lucky” that no vital organs were harmed.