HOLLYWOOD—A man responsible for the murder of another man outside of a Hollywood nightclub has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Robert Earl Thomas III, 23, was sentenced on Tuesday, August 2. Jurors found the defendant guilty in July on first-degree murder and also found true gang and gun allegations.
The suspect shot and killed Andre Lowe, 19, outside of the Empire Club at around 2 a.m. on January 13, 2013. The incident was captured on videotape, as the victim and two of his friends walked to their vehicle at the club’s parking lot.
According to a press release from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, court testimony indicated a man claiming to be a Carver Park gang member approached the victim and his group and asked what gang they were from. When an individual from Lowe’s group stated, “they don’t gang bang,” Thomas and others began to assault them.
Canyon News spoke to Greg Risling, Public Information Officer for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office via email about the case. “There was another man who was charged in this case, but it was dismissed. Other people were injured in the melee, but the suspects haven’t been identified,” said Risling.
Thomas walked towards the victim during the beating and shot him twice in the back of his head. In his attempt to flee the crime scene, Thomas ran over the victim’s body. He was taken into custody several days later in Las Vegas.
