DA: Macon man sentenced to 45 years for killing girlfriend in front of child
Prosecutors say the July 2021 shooting happened during an argument at the victim’s East Macon home.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Macon man will serve decades in prison for killing his girlfriend in front of her young daughter, according to the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Anita Howard said 34-year-old Leonard Holmes pleaded guilty on Monday in Bibb County Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to 45 years, with the first 20 to be served in the Department of Corrections.
The DA’s office said the shooting happened in the early morning hours of July 7, 2021, at the East Macon home of 38-year-old Tanesha Thomas. Thomas lived at the home with her seven-year-old daughter, and Holmes also lived there. Prosecutors said Holmes returned from a club and began arguing with Thomas, which led neighbors to call 911 after hearing the argument escalate.
According to the release, Holmes later called 911 and falsely claimed Thomas had been shot in a drive-by. Another neighbor called police again after seeing Holmes fire a handgun into the air. Investigators said Holmes held Thomas on the ground, waking her daughter in the next room. When the child came to help, Holmes released Thomas and moved toward his vehicle.
The DA’s office said Thomas grabbed her 9mm handgun and told Holmes to leave. Holmes, armed with a .40-caliber handgun, refused. Prosecutors said Holmes then fired a shot that struck Thomas in the torso as she stood on the front porch, killing her in front of her daughter. Evidence recovered at the scene included 9mm casings linked to Thomas’ firearm and multiple .40-caliber casings tied to Holmes’ weapon.
Holmes later claimed he acted in self-defense, according to the DA’s office.
“I’m grateful that by entering a guilty plea, the victim’s young daughter did not have to take the stand and relive this traumatic event,” DA Howard said. She added that the outcome “represents the best possible resolution for Thomas’ family” and mentioned support available through the office’s RISE program for children affected by violence.
According to the release, Thomas’ mother said she was satisfied with the result because it spared her granddaughter from testifying.
41NBC previously reported in 2021 that Holmes was charged after investigators interviewed him following the shooting death of Thomas, including warrants for murder and firearm-related offenses as the investigation continued.
