‘Best possible resolution.’ Macon man sentenced for killing girlfriend

After admitting to his girlfriend’s murder before his jury trial was about to start, a Macon man was sentenced to 20 years in prison, prosecutors announced Friday,

Leonard Holmes, 34, pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, prosecutors with the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office said in a news release. His case stems from a shooting on July 7, 2021, that began as an argument between him and his girlfriend, Tanesha Thomas, 38, which her 7-year-old daughter witnessed.

On the day of the incident, Holmes returned from a club to the couple’s house on Eastside when he began arguing with Thomas. Both lived together with her daughter, the news release said.

During the argument, Holmes held Thomas on the ground, which woke up her daughter, who slept in a nearby room. When she came to the scene, Holmes let Thomas go and went to his vehicle, according to prosecutors.

The neighbors, after hearing their argument, had called 911, the news release said.

Thomas grabbed her 9mm handgun and instructed Holmes to leave, but he was armed with a .40-caliber handgun and refused to leave. Thomas fired multiple shots toward the air, which prompted another neighbor to call 911, prosecutors said.

As the confrontation continued, Holmes eventually shot Thomas, “killing her as her daughter looked on,” prosecutors said in the news release.

Holmes called 911 at this point, claiming she was shot in a drive-by shooting, prosecutors said.

“Holmes later claimed he acted in self-defense, firing only after Thomas fired at him,” according to prosecutors in the news release. “This claim could have supported a jury charge of voluntary manslaughter if requested by the defense.”

But District Attorney Anita Howard called Holmes’ guilty plea “the best possible resolution for Thomas’ family, particularly her young daughter, who witnessed this tragedy.”

If the trial had gone on, Thomas’ daughter would’ve had to testify and relive the night her mother was killed, according to prosecutors. She now lives with her grandmother, Thomas’ mother, who expressed satisfaction with the outcome, prosecutors said.

After serving his 20-year prison sentence, he will be on probation for 25 years.