A former convict was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a veteran UPS employee who tried to intervene after spotting him rummaging through a parked car in Covina, just days before Christmas in 2021.
Trevor Howard Thompson, 37, was convicted after a Pomona jury deliberated for just an hour. He was also found guilty of two counts each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon. The jury determined that the special circumstance of murder to avoid arrest was true, along with several gun-related allegations, according to Deputy District Attorney Phil Stirling.
Thompson now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for January 31.
The Fatal Incident
The events unfolded on December 21, 2021, when Joey Manuel Casias, 38, returned home with his family from Christmas shopping at the Brea Mall. A 17-year-old neighbor informed him that a man had been seen inside a white BMW parked nearby. The car, left unlocked, belonged to the neighbor’s father, who had purchased it as a surprise gift for his daughter.
Casias, accompanied by the teen and another individual, went to search for the suspect, later identified as Thompson, inside a nearby housing complex. While the teen called 911, Casias and another person continued searching.
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Surveillance footage and testimony revealed that the confrontation escalated when Thompson, wielding a gun, turned on the group. Witnesses said Casias kneed Thompson after he swung at the teen, prompting Thompson to fire multiple shots. Casias was struck in the back and the hand and was found dead at the scene.
Thompson fled but was arrested the next day following a standoff with police. Ballistic evidence linked the recovered gun to the shooting.
The Prosecution’s Case
Deputy District Attorney Michelle Weiske presented evidence tying Thompson to the crime, including ballistics and witness testimony. She argued that Thompson acted deliberately, pulling a firearm and opening fire to avoid being apprehended.
Weiske also described a prior incident in August 2021 where Thompson allegedly threatened a man at gunpoint in a parking lot.
The Defense’s Argument
Defense attorney Anthony Cavalluzzi claimed Thompson acted in self-defense, arguing he was under attack during the confrontation. He described the encounter as a “beating” and contended that Thompson only fired his weapon after being punched and kneed.
Cavalluzzi argued that Casias and others took the law into their own hands, calling their actions “hunting” rather than helping.
The defense lawyer also noted Thompson’s history of mental health issues and delusions but did not focus on these in his closing argument.
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Heartbreaking Testimony
Casias’ widow, Veronica, gave emotional testimony, recounting how her husband asked her to take their children inside their home before going to confront the suspect.
Through tears, she confirmed that it was the last time she saw her husband alive.
Following the incident, then-District Attorney George Gascón called Casias’ death “especially heartbreaking” and commended his bravery in trying to protect his community.
Thompson remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
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