The suspect, Thomas Thacker, arrived at the address just after 7 a.m., riding a scooter. He approached the house and started pounding on the west side door, according to the police report. When the homeowner opened the door, Thacker allegedly pointed a loaded 30.06-caliber Mauser at his face and told him to move. The homeowner stepped aside and followed Thacker into the house.
Thacker went straight for a bedroom where the victim and a woman were located without searching any other rooms. The police report noted it was was unclear how Thacker knew where the victim was without searching.
When he entered the room, Thacker pointed the rifle at both people and yelled for the victim to wake up. Thacker then said, "I am going to kill both of you."
The homeowner tried to calm Thacker, who allegedly had his finger on the trigger. Thacker then pointed the rifle directly at the victim's head and said he was going to kill him.
Instead, Thacker smashed the rifle into the victim's head twice. The rifle went off during the second blow and fired a round into the ceiling. The responding officer did see a small hole he believed was consistent with a 30.06-caliber bullet.
After the rifle fired, Thacker threw it on the ground. The homeowner grabbed it and stored it in his gun safe. When he returned, the homeowner saw Thacker attacking the victim with his fists, punching him in the head. Then Thacker allegedly started twisting the victim's head in a way the homeowner thought would break the victim's neck.
The homeowner, according to the statement, screamed for Thacker to stop, but Thacker yelled back, "I hope he dies."
Then Thacker said to the woman, "Are you going to send me away? Or are you going to tell them he fell? You're supposed to be on my side. My life is over."
Thacker left the house and tried to leave, but the scooter would not start. He walked into the wooded area behind the house instead. When the officer arrived he did not see Thacker anywhere on the property.
However, as he was taking statements, the officer found the woman outside and Thacker was seated near her on the ground.
The officer ordered him to roll over onto his stomach and place his hands behind his back. Thacker complied, but said it was difficult because of back pain.
A second deputy took the Mauser from the homeowner's gun safe, unloaded it, and placed the spent cartridge, four live rounds and the rifle in the responding officer's vehicle so it could be submitted to evidence.
Thacker was transported to the jail without incident and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, burglary, terroristic threats and acts, stalking, cruelty to children under the Family Violence Act, criminal trespass, possession of arms by a convicted felon and possession of firearm or knife while trying to commit crimes.