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    • The sign dedication honors the state trooper killed in 1983: Tony Thames
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    The sign dedication honors the state trooper killed in 1983: Tony Thames

    Online Niel Posted on

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    Michigan State Trooper Tony Lynn Thames was about a month and a half shy of his 26th birthday when he was fatally shot during an off-duty armed robbery in 1983.

    More than 40 years later, the Michigan State Police honored the fallen trooper with a memorial sign, unveiled Tuesday during a dedication ceremony at the Metro South Post in Taylor. His brothers, one of his best friends – Pastor Eric Nelson – and his nephew, Sgt. Monte Holliday, attended the event.

    What happened to Private Tony L. Thames?

    Around 2:30 a.m. on June 12, 1983, Thames and a friend were walking outside the Balmar Motel on East Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit when two men approached them, pulled out a small gun and they pointed it towards the face of the Thames.

    “In self-defense, the officer then drew his department revolver and pointed it at his assailant,” according to Michigan State Police Association (MSPTA). “A struggle ensued and the suspect shot Trooper Thames once in the leg and once in the chest, causing the officer to fall.”

    Thames’ girlfriend tried to run, but was stopped and her purse was stolen by the second suspect, who threatened to kill her if she didn’t comply. Both suspects then ran to a car driven by a third man.

    Despite being seriously wounded, Thames got back up and fired a shot into the fleeing vehicle, striking the shooter’s arm, according to the MSPTA. The soldier collapsed again and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 3:50 a.m.

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    About 90 minutes after the shooting, at 4:05 a.m., Detroit police located the suspect vehicle. Officers arrested Robert Bowers, his brothers Douglas and Walter Bowers, and Douglas McIntosh while taking Robert to the hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound to the left arm.

    Thames’ friend identified the two men who attacked them from a group, according to police. The shooter, Robert Bowers, was later convicted of first-degree murder and remains in the Chippewa Correctional Facility, serving a life sentence.

    Remembering Trooper Thames

    Thames became a state trooper in 1980 and was assigned to the Jackson state police station at the time of his murder. He was visiting family in Detroit over the weekend when the shooting occurred.

    The Belmar Motel has since been demolished, and a Baymont by Wyndham hotel currently operates on the site. The sign, describing what happened, will be installed in that area later.

    “There he tried to thwart the robbery and was killed in the process,” said Lt. Rene Gonzalez, MSP Public Information Officer.

    Thames was the 37th officer MSP has lost, Gonzalez said. To date, 56 MSP soldiers have died in the line of duty.

    Nour Rahal is a breaking news reporter. Email him at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.

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