Yolanda Thomas death: 34 year old Yolanda Thomas and 31 year old Xavier Tyrell Johnson were shot and killed January 2013 after allegedly stealing from a drugstore and fleeing.
Reports say Thomas and Johnson had allegedly driven off after a theft at a pharmacy. Yolanda Thomas was driving with Xavier Tyrell Johnson as passenger.
However, while attempting to flee from officers, Thomas lost control of the vehicle she was driving which caused the car to hit a barricade post in the area of Southwest 56th Street and Southwest 117th Avenue. Then the shooting occurred.
Yolanda Thomas death: How Yolanda Thomas, Xavier Tyrell Johnson were shot & killed
The chain of events that led to Yolanda Thomas death started, according to reports, at about 2:30 p.m. that fateful day, when officers responded to a report of a theft in progress.
Police said Thomas and Johnson tried to escape in a car, but Thomas, who was driving, lost control and crashed into a barricade.
Officers said they were forced to fire when Yolanda Thomas then “attempted to strike the officers with the vehicle as they approached on foot.”
Miami-Dade police spokesman Det. Alvaro Zabaleta said:
“Officers at that point exited their vehicle as they were approaching the subject’s vehicle. The female subject attempted to use vehicle to strike another officer. Shots were fired.”
Yolanda Thomas died on the scene. Xavier Tyrell Johnson was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Reports say both Johnson and Thomas have criminal records.
The officers involved in Yolanda Thomas, Xavier Tyrell Johnson shooting were a five-year veteran and a six-year veteran.