The family of a Cocoa man killed after dropping off his 4-year-old son at a bus stop Wednesday morning continues to ask why.

  • Father shot several times after walking son to bus stop
  • Cocoa's Walter Thomas Jr. died soon afterward
  • Police say Thomas got into confrontation with man on bicycle

Walter Thomas Jr., 31, was shot several times before dying inside his Grove Avenue home, Cocoa Police said.

"The little boy ran to my aunt and said his dad got shot, and she jumped out of bed thinking it was a dream or something, and she started panicking," said Felicity Jenkins, whose aunt was the longtime girlfriend of Thomas.

"He made it in the house just in time to say, 'Get the kids out of the house,' " Jenkins said. "My aunt started putting them through the window because she thought whoever it was was coming inside the house."

Cocoa Police said Thomas had just watched his young son get on a school bus a block away, headed for voluntary pre-K. As he walked back to his street, a man on a bicycle confronted him, and an argument ensued.

That's when the suspect pulled a gun and shot Thomas several times, police said.

Thomas was able to make it back to his home just yards away and collapsed in front of his girlfriend and several children inside.

The occupants called 911, but by the time help arrived, it was too late.

Neighbor Laura Houston heard the commotion.

"I did see his kids. It was really sad. They were running down the street saying, 'Oh, my daddy got shot... My daddy's dead," Houston said.

Jenkins said Thomas ran a lawn care service.

"Whatever reason, whatever argument, it didn't have to end this way. Hopefully we we get some closure and some justice for the victim and the family," Yvonne Martinez of Cocoa Police said.

Investigators continue to search for a suspect and motive. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.


Police tape surrounds a home in Cocoa where investigators said a man was shot dead after walking his son to a school bus stop Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. (Greg Pallone, staff)