1 dead, 2 injured in shooting at Poplar Bluff home

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. � Authorities say paranoia from alleged methamphetamine use caused a Sikeston, Missouri, man to fire multiple shots inside the Poplar Bluff home of a relative, killing her and injuring two others late Thursday night.

Janice Nicole Thomas, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene early Friday by Butler County Coroner Andy Moore.

�She died as the result of gunshot wounds,� Moore said. Dr. Russell Deidiker will perform an autopsy at 9 a.m. today in Farmington, Missouri.

Thomas� 19-year-old daughter, Ladaijha Thomas, and Oshay Thomas-Allen, 25, of New Madrid, Missouri, were treated for gunshot wounds at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Police identified the alleged gunman as Ricky Dewayne Davis Jr., 31. The shooting occurred at Janice Thomas� residence in the 1100 block of Franklin Street.

Poplar Bluff police officers were sent to the home at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday regarding a report of man inside the home with a gun.

As Cpl. Dusty Johnson was approaching the home, he reported he �could hear gunshots inside the residence with some projectiles exiting the residence near me.�

Johnson, according to his report, took cover behind a vehicle. Additional officers also arrived and took cover.

Johnson said the officers could hear screaming from inside the home, but could not see inside.

As the officers approached the home, Johnson said, the front door opened, and �A black male was laying on the ground (floor) with his hands up,� Johnson said.

�The black male, later identified as Ricky Davis Jr., was saying: �Take me to jail.��

Davis was taken into custody and officers searched the home for victims or additional suspects.

In the first bedroom Johnson entered, he said, he found Ladaijha Thomas, lying on the floor bleeding, and Thomas-Allen, on the bed with an injury to his face. Johnson said Ladaijha Thomas reported she had been shot in the neck.

Two other women and a 3-year-old child also in the house were uninjured, Johnson said.

Janice Thomas was found lying on a bed in a bedroom across the hall, Johnson said. Patrolman Trevor Parks reported Janice Thomas appeared to have been shot in the chest.

During the investigation, detective Dan Mustain interviewed Rayna Haggerty, who had been visiting the Thomas home.

�She said Ricky was talking nonsense, and he appeared to be on drugs,� Mustain said. �When she (Haggerty) began talking to Janice, he became increasingly more agitated.�

Davis, according to Haggerty�s statement, began to yell at Thomas-Allen who was in the living room.

�Once he started yelling, Janice told him he needed to grab his stuff and leave,� Mustain said.

Davis, who, according to Lt. Josh Stewart, is a cousin to Janice Thomas, had been staying temporarily at the home.

Davis reportedly exited the home and sat on the front porch before re-entering the home.

�He repeatedly said he was not going to be disrespected,� Haggerty told officers

Davis �mentioned a gun,� at which point Haggerty tried to call police.

Davis then removed a handgun from his waistband and lunged at Haggerty, according to the report.

Everyone, with the exception of Janice Thomas, reportedly sought refuge in a locked bedroom while Janice Thomas remained outside and tried to talk Davis into dropping the gun, Mustain said.

Ladaijha Thomas called 911, at which time Davis asked whether she was �calling the cops on me� and began kicking the door and gained entry.

Haggerty said Davis then shot Ladaijha Thomas in the neck and leg, according to Mustain�s report, then Thomas-Allen was shot.

Davis was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, two counts of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

�This happened basically ... due to paranoia brought on mostly by meth use,� Stewart said. � ... It had nothing to do with the people there at the house. ... He basically became so paranoid, he thought they were in on the plot to kill him.�

Davis is being held in the Butler County Jail.