Thomas Bruce, 53, Charged In Catholic Supply Sex Assault, Killing

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO — A man first identified as a "person of interest" in a fatal shooting and sexual assault in St. Louis County has been charged with first-degree murder, three counts of sodomy, and multiple counts of kidnapping, evidence tampering and armed criminal action — 14 counts in all — St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said at a press conference Wednesday evening.

Authorities believe 53-year-old Thomas Bruce walked into a Catholic Supply store Monday afternoon and sexually assaulted three women, including 53-year-old Jamie Schmidt, at gunpoint. He then fatally shot Schmidt, police said. Another woman called 911 after Bruce fled.

"Every homicide is a tragedy, but a case like this is especially heartbreaking," McCulloch said, calling it "senseless." He cited the case's aggravating circumstances, but said a decision to seek the death penalty would be up to his successor, Wesley Bell.

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The shooting happened around 3:19 p.m. Monday at a shopping center on Manchester Road. Witnesses told the Post-Dispatch that Bruce ordered several women to strip before he assaulted and shot Schmidt.

McCulloch confirmed those witnesses' accounts Wednesday. Bruce entered the store posing as a customer before leaving, possibly to retrieve his gun, he said.

McCulloch said Bruce then returned to the store, forced the three women into the back room and "committed these horrible acts," which included sexual assault.

The store did not have any cameras that captured Bruce on video. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar thanked the public for submitting hundreds of leads, one of which led to Bruce's arrest.

Like McCulloch, Belmar said the case "shocked" him.

Comparisons have been made between the attack and the murder of two teenagers in Delphi, Indiana last year, but authorities say any connection between the murders is premature.

Detectives are still working with Indiana State Police to determine if the cases are related, Belmar said.

Prosecutors said they don't know why Bruce did what he did.

"We don't have any indication of previous convictions," McCulloch said. "It seems to me a guy like this saw an opportunity. There were three women in the store alone."

KMOV reports Bruce most recently worked as an insurance agent, but his employer lost contact with him almost two weeks ago. Before that he worked at a Jewish community center and managed a local grocery store.

The Post-Dispatch said that police searched Bruce's trailer in Jefferson County earlier Wednesday and reported a Gadsden Flag with the words "Don't Tread on Me" flying outside.

According to Bruce's Twitter page, identified by heavy.com, which is hashtagged #MAGA and #donttreadonme, he was a Navy veteran. Most of Bruce's posts are political in nature, and according to his Facebook page, Bruce attended a rally held by President Donald Trump in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, earlier in November.

Bruce retweeted conservative activist Candace Owens' tweet about sexual assault on Oct. 6. "If you are a victim of rape or sexual assault — I am sorry that you have had to watch the left politicize, diminish and demean your experience for political gain," the tweet read.

He was also a critic of gun control, writing on Facebook: "I'm hoping we end gun-free zones..."

Police do not believe Bruce knew his victims.

Image via St. Louis County Police Department