Men ambushed woman, shot her to death after argument in gas station, police say | Crime and Courts

Surveillance video showed Jenkins likely pulled the pendant off Thomas’ neck while trying to defend herself after the men ambushed her outside the gas station, court records state.

A detective recognized Thomas and Malone in a surveillance video and confirmed they were associates of Devonte T. Phillips, 20, who is Phillip Phillips’ brother, court records state.

Devonte Phillips has pleaded not guilty to murder and two counts of attempted murder in a shooting July 5, 2020, in Gary that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Christopher Watson.

Watson’s older brother was initially charged in the shooting death of Phillip Phillips, but Lake County prosecutors dropped the charges due to insufficient evidence.

The day Jenkins was killed, she was talking to a gas station employee when Thomas, who was wearing a red jersey and carrying a black handgun with an extended magazine, and Malone, who was wearing a blue shirt and was carrying an AR-15-type rifle that was missing its stock, walked into the business, records state.

Malone approached the counter and tried to cut in front of Jenkins, who argued with him, records state. A witness told police Jenkins told the men she wasn’t afraid of them or their guns.

As Jenkins left the store, Malone approached her and slapped her in the face with his right hand, records state.

Jenkins began fighting back, Malone slapped her a second time and she hit him with enough force to cause him to retreat backward off balance, according to court documents.

Thomas then ran at Jenkins and pistol-whipped her in the head as she turned to fight him. Jenkins began throwing punches, which is likely when she pulled the pendant off Thomas’ neck, court records state.

Thomas raised his arm, and Jenkins appeared to fall sideways onto the ground. Others in the parking lot took off running, likely at the sound of gunfire, according to documents.

Thomas allegedly fled in a black Volkswagen with a driver who was not identified in court records. Malone ran east on Fifth Avenue before police arrived, records state.

Jenkins was taken by ambulance to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus, where she was pronounced dead.

Malone’s formal appearance before Judge Gina Jones was scheduled for Thursday.