Man killed in shootout with troopers identified; trooper recovering

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Officials have identified the man who was killed in a shootout that left a state trooper injured Saturday.

Michael D. Thomas, 26, of Dallas, died following an exchange of gunfire with Missouri State Highway Patrol officers around 10 p.m. Saturday. The shooting occurred near the 56 mile marker along Interstate 55.

According to Clark Parrot, public information officer with the Highway Patrol, Thomas was wanted for harassment of a public servant and aggravated assault with a weapon in Texas.

A car in which Thomas was a passenger was stopped Saturday night after a trooper became suspicious. The trooper requested assistance from another trooper at the time of the stop.

While speaking with one of the four occupants of the vehicle, a passenger in the vehicle began firing a handgun at one of the troopers.

Thomas was shot and killed during the exchange, and a second passenger, Maurice A. Ely, 18, of Mesquite, Texas, was injured during the shooting.

Shane Stewart

Cpl. Shane Stewart was also struck by a bullet during the exchange and continues to recover from his injuries.

On Monday, Tonya M. Brown, 42, of Dallas and Jermaine K. Dennis, 24, of Mesquite were arraigned in Division II of New Madrid County Circuit Court on charges of second-degree murder; distribution, delivery, manufacture, produce or attempt to possess a controlled substance; possession of a controlled substance; and assault or attempted assault on a law enforcement officers. Bond for both is set at $100,000 cash only.

They are scheduled to return to court at 9 a.m. March 29.

Ely is being held without bond pending his arraignment. He faces the same charges as Brown and Dennis.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug Crime Control continues to investigate this incident, Parrot said.

Pertinent address:

New Madrid, MO