Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the sentencing of DONTA KING, JR., 26, to 25 years-to-life in state prison for fatally shooting 27-year-old Ronald Thomas on the Upper West Side in May 2022. On May 2, 2025, a New York Supreme Court jury found KING, JR., guilty on all counts, including Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
“Donta King, Jr., will serve a significant prison sentence for tragically taking the life of Ronald Thomas – a father and brother,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This vile act of gun violence against a defenseless man continues to devastate Mr. Thomas’ family and loved ones, who are still struggling to make sense of this horrifying and deadly attack. Combatting gun violence remains the top priority for my office as we work with our law enforcement partners to rid our streets of dangerous weapons and make Manhattan’s communities safer.”
As proven at trial, and according to court documents and statements made on the record in court,
Mr. Thomas and KING JR. were both romantically involved with the same woman. In the days leading up to the murder, the woman expressed in text messages that she wanted to get back together with Mr. Thomas, who she previously dated, and stop seeing KING, JR., who she was currently romantically involved with.
On April 30, 2022, Mr. Thomas was in New York City visiting from Virginia and, while in the city, Mr. Thomas made several attempts to contact the woman. During one of his attempts, Mr. Thomas interacted with the woman and KING, JR., at the woman’s workplace.
On May 1, 2022, Mr. Thomas drove to NYCHA’s Frederick Douglass Houses to attempt to meet up with the woman at her apartment building near West 102nd Street and Columbus Avenue. At approximately 12:00 p.m., the woman called Mr. Thomas, and he left the apartment building to meet her at the nearby cul-de-sac, where they began to argue by his parked car. At approximately 12:16 p.m., Mr. Thomas went back to his car and sat in the driver’s seat, with the door open. KING, JR., approached Mr. Thomas’ car and fired multiple shots at him, at close range, striking Mr. Thomas in the head and killing him. Minutes later, first responders arrived at the scene and pronounced Mr. Thomas dead with four gunshot wounds to his head.
KING, JR., fled the scene in his car and left the state. He was arrested in Pennsylvania in August 2022 and extradited to New York County.
Assistant D.A.s Amy Hare and Christina Awad handled the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Shawn McMahon (Acting Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 40 and Deputy Chief of the Trial Division), Robert Ferrari (former Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 40) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistants Kyle McMahan and Emory DeRosa, Senior Investigative Analyst Erica Grening, Investigator May Dempsey, former Assistant D.A. Jack Daily, and former Investigative Analyst Sarah Rogers, provided invaluable assistance in this case.
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Heriberto Vasquez, Detective Paul Scott, Detective Christopher Heredia, Sergeant Nelly Sayago, and Police Officer Jarel Winston.
Defendant Information:
DONTA KING, JR.
Baltimore, M.D.
Convicted:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts
Sentenced:
- 25 years-to-life in state prison
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