Fullerton : 2 Men, 1 in Wheelchair, Arrested in Shooting

A wheelchair-bound man and his brother, who allegedly shot and robbed a man outside a bar, were arrested Wednesday when a detective recognized them from a description, authorities said.

William Philip Thomas, 40, who is paralyzed below the waist from a car accident, and his brother, John Daniel Thomas, 41, were arrested near Commonwealth Avenue and Lemon Street by a detective who was eating lunch, Police Sgt. Bud Lathrop said.

Lathrop said Detective Bill Grob recognized the wheelchair-bound Thomas and his brother from a description of robbers in the Tuesday night shooting of Manuel Sanchez, 23, during a robbery attempt.

“There are very few people whose mode of operation includes a wheelchair,” Lathrop said. He said both brothers have prior arrests.

Sanchez told police he was walking near a bar in the 400 block of South Harbor Boulevard about 7:10 p.m., when he was approached by two men, one of whom was in a wheelchair. The man in the wheelchair held a .25-caliber automatic, and the two men asked Sanchez for money, Lathrop said.

The gunman shot Sanchez three times, then the robbers fled, Lathrop said. Sanchez was taken to St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton, where a hospital spokeswoman said he was in fair condition Wednesday.

The brothers, who were booked on suspicion of attempted murder and robbery, were being held in City Jail pending arraignment. No bail has been set, Lathrop said.