The initial incident began at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2022 after 911 received a call regarding two occupants of a boat that was taking on water. The vessel was located up against a seawall on the north end of Lake Seminole. The occupants were not in any distress and were transported safety back to the boat ramp at Lake Seminole Park by a boat provided by Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue. The two rescued occupants were identified as 39 year-old Pastor Shawn Thomas and 37 year-old Alexandra Dumervil.
At approximately 5:40 p.m., fire rescue personnel were dispatched to the area of the earlier water rescue for reports of a person drowning. Witnesses in the area reported a male entered the water and never resurfaced.
Assistance searching the lake was provided to the Pinellas County Sheriff Office from the Florida Fish and Wildlife, Clearwater Fire Rescue, Pinellas Suncoast, and Seminole Fire Rescue.
Detectives say once Thomas was brought ashore earlier in the day, he called a friend, 74 year-old Joe Wright, to assist him in recovering his boat from the water. Wright was able to utilize his boat to assist Thomas in retrieving his boat. Once Thomas was on board his boat, the boat capsized and he was seen slipping into the water. Wright attempted to rescue Thomas out of the water but was unable to bring him onboard the boat. Wright lost visual of Thomas who never resurfaced.
At approximately 9:47 p.m. deputies located Thomas’ body approximately 10 yards in Lake Seminole from where he was last seen.
It does not appear drugs or alcohol were factors in the incident. Thomas was not wearing a life vest.
Thomas was recently installed as the pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg.
The investigation continues.