As released by the Office of the Governor:

Governor Corbett Signs Execution Warrant.

Man Convicted of Murdering Homicide Witness in Philadelphia County.

Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett today signed an execution warrant for Donte Thomas, who was convicted of First Degree Murder for the February 3, 2006 shooting death of Tyreese Gaymon in Philadelphia.

Thomas is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Greene and his execution has been scheduled for March 13, 2014. The execution warrant signed today for Donte Thomas was Governor Corbett’s 30th warrant signed since taking office.

Executions in Pennsylvania are carried out by lethal injection. For more information, visit the Department of Corrections online at www.cor.state.pa.us and select “Death Penalty’’ from the left-side navigation bar. Case Background: Thomas, now 36, was sentenced to death in September 2007 in the Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division of Philadelphia County.

Thomas met with Kareem Glass on January 31, 2006 at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia. Glass was awaiting trial for the September 28, 2004 murder of Tyreek Gaymon. During the meeting, Glass indicated to Thomas that he was nervous about Tyreese Gaymon, Tyreek Gaymon’s cousin and witness to the murder, testifying against him.

Four days later, at approximately 10 a.m. on February 3, 2006, Tyreese Gaymon was on the corner of 15th and Thompson Streets in Philadelphia with three other men when Thomas came around the corner of Thompson Street, drew a gun, extended his arm, and began shooting at Tyreese Gaymon. Gaymon sustained four gunshot wounds; one to the left side of his chest which proved fatal.

The three men with Tyreese Gaymon at the time of the shooting all identified Thomas as the killer. While awaiting trial in prison, Thomas admitted to another inmate that he murdered someone who was going to testify against Glass for another murder. In doing so, Thomas asked the inmate if he would arrange the murder of one of the men who identified Thomas as Tyreese Gaymon’s killer. Instead of doing what was asked, the inmate contacted the police.

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