An Augusta man who broke into a workplace and gunned down a woman he was involved with will spend life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Cornell Thomas, 34, pleaded guilty to all charges Tuesday in the Aug. 23, 2022, shooting death of Cynthia “Boosie” Wright, 43, at her job site at Union Agener Distribution Center on Fifth Street.
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Richmond County Superior Court Judge John Flythe sentenced Thomas to life in prison for murder with the possibility of parole, making him eligible for parole in 30 years.
If he survives prison and is paroled, he’ll serve an additional 20 years on probation, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possessing a gun while committing a felony.
“I hope he enjoys the rest of his life in jail,” the victim’s son, Antonio Wright, told the court.
Wright was a mother, grandmother, sister and aunt who worked the overnight shift as a security guard at the distribution center.
She had been involved with Thomas about five months, said Keagan Waystack, assistant district attorney over the Violent Crimes and Gang Unit.
When she told him it was over, Thomas had his mother drive him to her workplace, where he scaled a fence and demanded to see her, Waystack said.
When Wright finally agreed, they argued inside and video shows Thomas shooting Wright 10 times, she said. Her body was found six hours later by the guard who had the next shift.
Thomas had just been released from prison six months earlier after serving three years of a 10-year sentence for cruelty to children.
He had been arrested 18 times on various battery, family violence, theft and drug charges, Waystack said.
Defense attorney Jordan Price said Thomas hoped his taking responsibility for the crimes and accepting a life sentence would eventually allow him to be released.
Thomas, who had several family members in the gallery, made it to the 11th grade at Cross Creek High School and fathered four children ages 1-13, Price said.
