The jury is still deliberating in the first degree murder trial of Xavier Thomas.
Thomas, now 26, is alleged to have shot and killed Julian Fipps in January 2022.
The jury was charged Thursday and sent out to begin deliberations. They continued on Friday afternoon, and were dismissed just before 4 p.m. One juror was replaced today before the jury went back in to continue considering the case.
Thomas was arrested a week after Fipps’ bullet-riddled Jeep was found overturned on MM Ray Road. Thomas was tracked to South Carolina, where he was arrested with the assistance of Horry County Police.
Thomas was released on $400,000 secured bond, then arrested again on cocaine and marijuana charges in September 2025. His bond was revoked after the drug arrest and he was ordered held until trial. He has not been tried on the drug charges.
The murder case made headlines again in 2024 when evidence photos were released by unknown persons and were shared on social media.
The photos led District Attorney Jon David and Sheriff Bill Rogers to issue a joint statement condemning the publishing of the photos, which included crime scene pictures of Fipps’ body in the vehicle. The person who posted the photos also shared an email between a CCSO investigator and the FBI, and telephone logs that he claimed showed Thomas is not guilty of the killing.
Rogers, David and Thomas’ attorney at the time, J.B. Lee, denied knowledge of how the evidence photos were obtained. Evidence is made available to defense attorneys during the discovery process while a defendant is preparing for trial. Evidentiary material is secured by investigators and is only made accessible to defense and prosecution, unless specifically released by court order.
The source of the photographs has not been determined.
Jury selection was reportedly hampered by the publication of the photos, since the images were widely spread online.
A judge refused to issue a restraining order requested by Fipps’ parents against the individual who posted the photos. The individual allegedly video recorded the Fipps family walking into the courtroom, and reportedly smiled at the family during testimony about the crime scene.
Around 75 relatives and family members attended court last week in support of the Fipps family.
