Still no arrests as family and friends bury Prichard's murdered grandmother

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) – Ten days have passed since an innocent Prichard grandmother was shot and killed in her sleep in her home.

No one has been arrested in connection with her death. The Mobile County Sheriff's Office and Prichard Police Department are still searching for the person or persons responsible for her death. Investigators believe the shooting was likely gang-related.

On Saturday, the Prichard community said a final farewell to 67-year-old Ethel Thomas, a well-known woman and matriarch of the community.

Hundreds filled the Prayer Tabernacle Church in Prichard. Thomas' family dressed in blue and white to honor their love of the Dallas Cowboys.

Patrick Munnerlyn, chaplain for Mobile County, has spent the past two weeks with Thomas' family. He says they long for justice and asks the community to pray for them.

“Today is really, really tough. Everyone is very tough. Her husband is very tough,” Munnerlyn said. “We know Prichard has her hands full…she's just relying on her job and the Mobile County Sheriff's Department and their cooperation. I believe they're keeping one or two family members in the loop on what they're doing.”

Meanwhile, Munnerlyn calls on people to lay down their weapons once and for all. He asks how many more innocent lives must be lost.

“I don't think we should have an open carry law. That's just my opinion. I think we've encouraged people to carry a gun. I've never owned one in my life and I don't plan to own one, but since there's only so much that police departments can do to control the violence in our community, I think it would help them to muzzle people from just walking around with a gun,” he said.

After the funeral, the family followed the cortege as Thomas' body was taken by horse and buggy to her home on Sample Street… the house where she was shot. Thomas and her husband were married for nearly 50 years.

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