Defense Fund Surpasses $5,000 for Upper St. Clair Man Accused of Parking Lot Shooting

A defense fund seeking donations for an Upper St. Clair father of three charged with shooting and killing a Washington man in a grocery store parking lot has surpassed $5,000.

Brandon Thomas is charged with homicide, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence charges. 

The latest DUI charge was filed in January after blood tests showed he had heroin in his system when North Franklin Township police found Thomas passed out in his vehicle just days before the killing, according to the Observer-Reporter.

An online defense fund, a petition and a Facebook page has been set up to support Thomas, who is a decorated war veteran with three purple hearts.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $5,000 has been donated for Thomas' fund, more than 1,500 people have signed an online petition requesting Thomas is released from the Washington County Jail and nearly 3,900 have liked the "Free Brandon Thomas" Facebook page. 

Thomas was held for trial on Nov. 7 on charges he fatally shooting Vaughn Simonelli, 55, of Chartiers Township, in the Shop 'n Save parking lot in the City of Washington on Oct. 18 after an apparent road rage incident.

Thomas was honorably discharged from the Army after suffering wounds from a bullet, shrapnel and a roadside explosion while serving and he has told investigators he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Observer-Reporter.

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