When police first received the call of a fatal shooting at 6403 Ontario Center Road in the Town of Ontario on Tuesday (10/6) at 1:25 a.m., the caller passed it off as a home invasion.
Following interviews and looking at the evidence, the story really began to unravel that “home invasion” claim.
When Wayne County Deputies arrived they found Brett S. Brookover deceased in the driveway of the house. He had been shot multiple times with a 12 gauge shotgun by the resident of the house, Lee Michael Thomas, age 34.
Thomas began weaving a story at the scene and later at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. In his written statement Thomas stated he was at home when a girlfriend, Laura Smith, began texting Brookover, looking for some crack cocaine.
When Brookover (aka Sammy) arrived at about 10:30 p.m., Laura went out to his pick up truck and began smoking some crack for about an hour. Also in the truck was a “black guy”, later identified as Marcus Stock, age 37.
Thomas told police he was upset and wondering what was taking his girlfriend and Brookover so long. He went outside, and claimed he took the pipe out of Laura’s hand and went in the house. The statement went on to say that they, including Thomas, began smoking more crack cocaine, before a disagreement ensued. “This is not the first time he (Sammy) has pissed me off,” admitted Thomas. Brookover left, but came back, trying to get back in the house. That is when Thomas thought he was in fear of his life, got the shotgun and – as the door flew open – shot Brookover, then followed and discharged the weapon again.
Thomas said he fired the weapon several more times to frighten off Stock.
Wayne County District Attorney, Rick Healy, explained that the evidence shows Brookover was shot next to his truck, and there was no evidence the shooting took place anywhere inside, or near the house. “It was a half-ass claim of self defense,” said Healy.
Stock’s statement to police read entirely different from what Thomas claimed. Stock said they originally got a text message from a guy named “Gator, or Rat Trap” to go to 106 Lakeside in Ontario. When no one answered at that address, another text from Laura popped up on the phone at about 11:30 p.m. When they arrived at the Ontario Center Road address, Laura came out and sat between Brookover and Marcus and began smoking the crack cocaine. They all moved inside the house where words were reportedly exchanged, but they continued smoking crack.
Brookover and Stock went out to the truck and Thomas exited with the shotgun and began shooting. Stock told police he jumped out of the truck and into a ditch, then ran up the road.
Stock said he talked to both his brother and talked to “Sam’s brother Rob “to let him know what’s going on.”
Brookover was pronounced dead at the scene by Wayne County Coroner David Hannan. The body was removed to the Monroe County Medical Examiners’ Office for an autopsy.
Following the investigation, Lee Thomas was charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree in the death of Brookover and Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree for the intent to kill Marcus Stock. At the arraignment in Town of Ontario Court, before Ontario Justice, Paul Sucher, Thomas was remanded to the Wayne County jail on No Bail. Records indicate all parties involved at the scene have extensive police records. At the arraignment Brookover’s brother reportedly made some threatening comments in Court. At the scene of the crime at 6403 Ontario Center Road, police discovered a quantity of marijuana and more plants growing on the property. It was estimated that police seized between one and two pounds of marijuana.
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