Man faces life sentence for waiting outside woman's home, shooting her, prosecutors say

A Lebanon man is facing a life sentence after being found guilty at trial of fatally shooting a woman at her home in Franklin , the Warren County Prosecutor's Office said.

Elijah Thomas, 28, was convicted after a two-day bench trial before Warren County Common Pleas Court Judge Donald Oda II, who found Thomas guilty of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and improper discharge of a firearm, the prosecutor's office said in a news release Thursday.

Prosecutors say Thomas approached 23-year-old Katelyn Puckett in June 2023 as she returned to her apartment and opened fire on Puckett at close range, striking her six times.

The shooting happened in front of eyewitnesses and family members told investigators that Thomas threatened Puckett with violence in the days and weeks leading up to the shooting, according to prosecutors.

Investigators also uncovered GPS location data showing Thomas had waited more than 30 minutes for Puckett to return home.

Thomas' attorney has yet to respond to a message from The Enquirer seeking comment.

Prosecutors say Thomas faces a mandatory life sentence. Court records do not indicate when Thomas is scheduled to appear for sentencing.