According to court records, 40-year-old Thomas Draper reportedly shot and killed Jason Sierra during a drug deal gone bad Monday and then tried to eliminate proof connecting him to the murder.
Court records from Phoenix police show that Draper’s record includes security camera footage and digital evidence linking him to the person accountable for the death of 24-year-old Sierra, who was shot in the head outside an apartment complex near 43rd Street and McDowell Road.
Police found Sierra with a gunshot wound in the parking area of Ocotillo Village Apartments where the shooting occurred. Court records state that he was sent to Valleywise Medical Center and died at roughly 3:30 a.m.
Police examined security camera footage which showed a black Toyota 4Runner parking before the shooting. The records then show Sierra approaching the car and seated on the passenger side.
According to records, a quick struggle supposedly took place between Sierra and the driver before the victim was witnessed being pushed from the car onto the ground. Later on, authorities discovered Sierra wounded with a gunshot.
Following their investigation, which connected a Toyota observed on the surveillance cameras at the site to a vehicle registered in Draper’s name, Phoenix police detained him on Thursday Court records state that Draper was arrested at his house close to Grand Avenue and McDowell Road, over seven miles east of the scene.
Police also positioned Draper near the site of the Toyota seen on surveillance cameras using information linked with his phone number. The records state that before his detention, Draper bent and cracked his phone.
Police claimed that although Draper arrived at the shooting scene with his passenger window intact, he left the scene with the window gone, most likely damaged in line with gunfire.
According to reports, Draper covered the passenger window during the days following the incident.
After his capture, Draper gave various contradicting stories of what happened. He first claimed he had given his car to someone called Jason, but he later acknowledged he had been nearby.
According to Draper, he attempted to purchase crack cocaine from the victim, who supposedly pointed a gun at him and demanded money. Then, according to Draper, he shoved the victim out of the car and knocked the gun aside.
Court records show Draper denied seeing any blood and claimed he cleaned his car following the event, denying hearing any gunshots.
Both criminal counts—second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence—were charges placed upon Draper upon his arrest.
Held on a $1,000,000 cash-only bond, Draper was next set to show up in court on August 22.