The Antelope Valley Times

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Lancaster man shoots, injures wife at holiday party

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The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 25, on the 2700 block of East Avenue J-4 in Lancaster. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)
The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 25, on the 2700 block of East Avenue J-4 in Lancaster. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)

LANCASTER – A 64-year-old Lancaster man, apparently upset over “financial issues,” allegedly shot his wife multiple times in the stomach at a family gathering early Christmas morning, authorities said.

Thomas Silas was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and attempted murder in connection with an incident that occurred around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 25, on the 2700 block of East Avenue J-4 in Lancaster, according to Lancaster Community Relations deputy Miguel Ruiz. Nearly a dozen family members, including the couple’s adult daughter, were gathered at the home for a celebration, Ruiz said.

Lancaster deputies responded to the home regarding a “shots fired, assault with a deadly weapon” call, Ruiz said. Thomas Silas cooperated with the deputies’ orders to drop the handgun, Ruiz said. [LUIS MEZA]
Lancaster deputies responded to the home regarding a “shots fired, assault with a deadly weapon” call, Ruiz said. Thomas Silas cooperated with the deputies’ orders to drop the handgun, Ruiz said. [LUIS MEZA]
“I don’t know if they were celebrating Christmas because I don’t know what their religious affiliation is, but it was definitely a holiday party,” Ruiz said. “The suspect did not want to have a holiday party, while they were also having financial issues… And so they had an argument about their financial issues and the husband became upset.”

Silas allegedly retrieved a handgun from inside his home and confronted his wife by telling her to shoot him with it, according to Ruiz.

“She declined, so the suspect shot her in her abdomen,” Ruiz stated, adding that family members quickly notified emergency services.

When Lancaster deputies responded to the home, Silas was in the front yard still holding his handgun, according to Ruiz.

“Suspect Silas cooperated with the deputies’ orders to drop the handgun, and he was detained without further incident,” Ruiz stated.

The victim, described only as a woman in her mid 40s, was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital and was in stable condition, Ruiz said.

Silas remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

22 comments for "Lancaster man shoots, injures wife at holiday party"

  1. As the posting of a suspects race is fine IF it a release of information by a government notice. If a news outlet uses it they should be consistent in it use all the time or never use it, just do not use it to incite & provoke violence.

  2. The Christmas brings out the best and worst of people. For some it is NOT a happy time for others who understand and accept what Christmas is ready about it is great joyful time with their families, for secular or non-Christians type it maybe an expense time with no value. Here in” America” you have a choice to participate or not it is individual call. Someone state we judge to quickly, the truth is the crime will be judged in a courtroom by a jury unless it is a plea deal. We as a people in the USA can an “opinion” on any news article and information given to us based on facts or not. For the man involved in the shooting of his wife that issue will be resolved in court. As the posting of a suspects race is fine IF it a release of information by a government notice. If a news outlet uses it they should be continence use it all the time or never use it, just do not use it to incite & provoke violence.

  3. Who the hell cares what their nationality is or their religion or their race for that matter.. Smh at the IGNORANCE.. Someone was shot DUMMY

  5. why uis it that when its read first here before the AV times that everyone jumps to conclusion its a race thing…sheesh crime has no color or race…society needs to learn if u hate the justice syatem plaimn and simple DONT BREAK THE DAMN LAW..DUH but all those that do to me comment sections are like they werent doing nothing yet the sheriffs caught them cuz of their skin… would love to see what phone # u will call when ur AN INNOCENT VICTIM ON A HOLDUP AND UR PHONE IS STOLEN AND UR HEAD IS CAVED IN FROM A BLUNT OBJECT….wake up even criminals are innocent till we prove them guilty as a society so stop already playing judge advocate and exacutioner before a court trial

    • Seriously READ your comment BEFORE you post!! I don’t really know what your trying to say.. No one said anything about it being a RACE ISSUE but I do agree race has NOTHING to do with the topic.

      • Oops! I don’t think you’re talking about Kelsey Grammer, but I think you are attempting to correct Kristian’s grammar. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

  6. Umm I live next door to them and actually they are black, not really sure what the difference of skin color has to do with any of this, tragedy is tragedy no matter what the race!

  8. Notice that didn’t give their nationality. I’m guessing they were white. Racism is alive and well ppl ijs

    • It seems the only one making it about race is you, but actually I live on this street and they are black (not sure why this matters), it was a family dispute that ended badly what does race have to do with any of this and why do you automatically assume they were white?

    • Actually they were black……..I was in the ER with my mom when they came in. But congrats on throwing the race card in there…….how about what a horrible thing to happen on Christmas!!!!

    • Could be middle eastern. Silas has a long history in the middle east.
      I fail to see the racism in this article though. I mean for once the reporter did not comment on skin tone, the cops did not shoot because the man obeyed their orders. I think this qualifies as the opposite of racism.

  9. Hopefully the wife has a fast recovery. Its sad how money could really make somebody do this. Money isn’t everything if you have nobody to share it with!