In 2021, 19-Year-Old West Charleston Resident Arrested for the Murder of Star Student-Athlete Kelvin “KJ” Taylor

In a shocking incident that rocked the town of West Charleston, a 19-year-old resident named Dekotis Thomas was arrested for the murder of Kelvin “KJ” Taylor, a star student-athlete. The tragic event occurred on April 7, 2021, when Thomas shot Taylor in the chest, resulting in his untimely death.

Initially, the Charleston Police Department faced difficulties in finding leads and solving the case. However, thanks to surveillance footage recovered from the area, Thomas was identified as the suspect. Additionally, the authorities named a suspicious vehicle, which ultimately led to Taylor’s arrest on July 8, 2021.

Investigation Discovery Sheds Light on Kelvin Taylor’s Murder

The See No Evil episode titled “Fallen Star” delves into the details of Kelvin Taylor’s murder and the involvement of Dekotis Thomas. The episode aired on January 10, 2024, at 9 p.m. EST on Investigation Discovery. According to the synopsis, the episode explores the killing of talented high school football star KJ Taylor in a drive-by shooting outside a West Virginia convenience store. Detectives rely on CCTV footage to trace the truck that was seen stalking KJ’s friends leading up to the tragic incident.

The Arrest of Dekotis Thomas and the Investigation Process

Following the identification of Dekotis Elijah Thomas as the perpetrator through surveillance footage, an arrest warrant was issued for him. The United States Marshal Service (USMS), in collaboration with the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) and the Akron Police Department, successfully apprehended Thomas on July 8, 2021, as reported by WOWK-TV News 13.

Authorities discovered Thomas hiding at his residence on Glendora Avenue in Akron, where he had sought refuge. Joey Spano, Thomas’ defense attorney, shed light on his troubled upbringing, stating that Thomas grew up with 15 siblings and lacked proper guidance in life. Despite the challenges he faced, Thomas managed to graduate from high school, surprising his attorney.

The investigation revealed that Thomas had driven a grey Ford F-150 during the drive-by shooting that claimed Kelvin Taylor’s life. Thomas allegedly fired bullets out of the window, one of which struck Taylor in the chest. Sadly, Taylor succumbed to his injuries upon arrival at the hospital.

Further scrutiny into Dekotis Thomas’ background uncovered his involvement in the unsolved murder of Antwan Curnell in October 2019. This revelation added weight to the case against him.

During the process of negotiating his surrender, Thomas set his house on fire and even threw an item resembling a Molotov cocktail at officers. After a two-hour standoff, the fire was extinguished, and Thomas finally surrendered.

The Current Whereabouts of Dekotis Thomas

Dekotis Thomas faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder in the case of Kelvin “KJ” Taylor. He also faced four additional counts related to the 2019 death of Antwan Curnell, according to CBS News.

In August 2022, Thomas entered a Kennedy plea, which means he did not admit guilt but acknowledged that the state had sufficient evidence for a conviction. As part of the plea agreement, the prosecutors dropped the seven other related charges. Judge Joanna Tabit sentenced Thomas to life in prison without the possibility of parole, effectively ending any chance of him walking free.

Presently, Dekotis Thomas is incarcerated at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex, as per the records of the West Virginia Department of Corrections.