Federal Agent Maria Thompson's Murder Trial: The Fatal Shooting of Terry Thompson in Loxahatchee Home
In the early hours of August 9, 2019, a domestic situation in Loxahatchee, Florida escalated to fatal violence when 44-year-old U.S. Customs agent Maria Thompson shot and killed her husband Terry. What began as a prolonged argument that had started over the phone and continued when Terry arrived home around 2:00 a.m. culminated in gunfire around 6:10 a.m. as Maria was preparing for her shift at the Port of Palm Beach. After shooting her husband multiple times, Maria immediately called 911 and identified herself as the shooter, claiming she had acted in self-defense.
The scene that law enforcement encountered raised questions about Maria's self-defense claim. Terry Thompson, 52, was found lying on the living room floor in his underwear, having apparently fallen from the couch where he had been resting with a laptop and blanket. He had sustained nine gunshot wounds—two to his chest and six to his back after he fell—with no weapon found within his reach. Despite Maria's assertions of years of abuse and threats made that morning, investigators found inconsistencies in her account and ultimately arrested her on suspicion of first-degree murder. The couple's two young children, ages 6 and 7, were asleep in another room during the incident but did not witness the shooting.
Key Takeaways
Maria Thompson, a U.S. Customs agent, shot her husband Terry nine times following an hours-long argument in their Florida home.
Despite claiming self-defense and reporting years of abuse, investigators found Terry unarmed and shot multiple times in the back.
The couple's two young children were in the home but did not witness the shooting that transformed their family forever.
Case Summary
Initial Incident Description
On August 9, 2019, a tragic domestic incident occurred at a residence in Loxahatchee, Florida. Maria Thompson, a 44-year-old US Customs agent, fatally shot her husband Terry Thompson, 52, while he was resting on the living room couch. The shooting happened around 6:10 a.m., just before Maria was scheduled to begin her shift at the Port of Palm Beach. The couple had been arguing throughout the night and into the morning, primarily about marital issues.
Emergency Call Details
Maria contacted emergency services immediately after the shooting. During the recorded 911 call, she stated: "I just shot him. He was trying to kill me." The dispatcher attempted to guide her through checking on her husband's condition, but Maria expressed fear of approaching him. She remained in the kitchen area observing Terry from a distance, reporting that he was gasping for breath. When asked about weapons, Maria confirmed her service weapon was in her holster and mentioned there was a machete in the bedroom and another firearm stored in a closet.
Police Response and Investigation
Law enforcement arrived to find Maria Thompson in her full Customs and Border Protection uniform. She surrendered peacefully and was immediately taken into custody. Inside the residence, emergency medical personnel declared Terry Thompson dead at the scene. Crime scene investigators documented nine 40-caliber shell casings and determined Terry had been shot nine times—twice in the chest and seven times in the back as he fell from the couch.
The investigation revealed several key details:
Terry appeared to have been lying on the couch with a laptop, covered by a blanket
No weapons were found within his reach
All nine shots hit their target
Six shots were delivered to Terry's back after he had fallen to the floor
Based on the physical evidence collected, detectives disputed Maria's self-defense claim and arrested her on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Children's Situation
The couple's two young children, ages 6 and 7, were asleep in another room during the incident. The eldest child was awakened by the gunshots and emerged shortly after the shooting. Maria's primary concern when speaking with authorities was ensuring her children were properly cared for, requesting that family members be contacted. She instructed others not to tell the children what had happened, as her oldest child had been asking if "Daddy got shot." Neither child directly witnessed the shooting incident, but they were present in the home when it occurred.
Background Details
Maria and Terry Thompson's Life
Maria Thompson, 44, worked as a U.S. Customs agent at the Port of Palm Beach. She met Terry Thompson, 13 years her senior, at the University of Florida in 2000 when she was just 20 years old. They started as friends before developing a romantic relationship. For Maria, Terry represented her first serious romantic connection.
Terry was initially perceived as confident and charming during their courtship. The couple eventually married and had two children together, who were 6 and 7 years old at the time of the incident in August 2019. They established their family home in Loxahatchee, Florida.
Night Before the Incident
On August 9, 2019, around 1:00 a.m., Maria was on the phone with Terry as he drove home. Their two young children were asleep in another room of the house. Terry requested that Maria keep him company on the call during his drive, which meant she got only minimal rest before her 7:00 a.m. shift.
The phone conversation deteriorated into an argument about their marital problems that lasted for hours. When Terry finally arrived home around 2:00 a.m., he brought his hostile mood with him. The verbal confrontation continued in person until approximately 6:00 a.m., when Maria began preparing for her workday.
Maria later told investigators that the subsequent events became a blur, with many details she couldn't recall clearly. At 6:10 a.m., she placed a call to emergency services, reporting that she had shot her husband.
Marriage Difficulties
The Thompson marriage had reportedly been troubled for some time. During questioning after the incident, Maria claimed Terry had been abusive for years. She stated that throughout that night and into the morning, he had been verbally berating her from the living room while she prepared for work.
According to Maria's statements, Terry frequently told her she wasn't good enough and had threatened to kill her that morning. When asked why she hadn't called for help earlier when these threats were made, she claimed she was frightened and thought her phone might have been in the living room—though investigators later noted her phone was clipped to her duty belt.
The couple's arguments often became heated. During their final dispute, Terry had allegedly thrown a remote control at Maria, though investigators found no displaced devices at the scene. The tensions in their relationship had apparently reached a breaking point on that fateful morning, culminating in violence that would permanently alter the lives of the entire Thompson family.
The Incident
Preparing for Her Work Shift
Maria Thompson began preparing for her shift at the Port of Palm Beach around 6:00 AM on August 9, 2019. She had only managed a few hours of sleep that night, having stayed on the phone with Terry during his drive home. As a U.S. Customs agent, Maria needed to be at work by 7:00 AM, giving her limited time to get ready.
She changed into her complete Customs and Border Control uniform, which included her service weapon in its holster on her duty belt. According to Maria's statements, during this preparation time, Terry continued their argument from the living room, verbally berating her.
Terry's Position During the Event
Terry Thompson was resting on the living room couch when the shooting occurred. He was lying on his back in his underwear with a blanket covering him and his laptop resting on his lap. A pillow was positioned nearby, and he appeared to have been in a relaxed, reclined position with his feet propped up.
There was a bullet-resistant vest in a carrier draped over the opposite end of the couch. Investigators found no weapons within Terry's immediate reach when they examined the scene. While a golf club was located near the couch and other potential weapons existed elsewhere in the home (a machete in the bedroom and a gun in a safe), none were accessible to Terry at the moment of the shooting.
Deployment of Service Weapon
Maria used her service-issued 40-caliber handgun to shoot Terry nine times. The first two shots struck him in the chest area while he was still on the couch. Terry apparently raised his left arm in defense, which blocked a third shot from reaching his midsection.
As Terry fell from the couch to the floor, Maria fired six more shots, all striking him in the back. Investigators later recovered all nine bullet casings along a wall in the living room. After the shooting, at approximately 6:10 AM, Maria called 911 and reported what had happened.
When instructed by the emergency dispatcher, Maria placed her service weapon on top of the refrigerator before deputies arrived. Upon their arrival, she surrendered without resistance and was taken into custody while emergency personnel attended to Terry, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Examination
Analyzing the Crime Location
The scene of the incident revealed significant details about the fatal shooting. Terry Thompson was discovered face-down on the living room floor near the couch, with evidence suggesting he had been lying comfortably before the shooting occurred. A blanket, pillow, and laptop were found adjacent to his body. He appeared to have been reclining in his underwear, covered by the blanket with his computer on his lap.
Investigators found nine .40 caliber shell casings along a wall. A bullet-resistant vest in a carrier was draped over the opposite end of the couch. Despite thorough searches of the area around Terry's body, including moving furniture and checking under cushions, no weapons were found within his reach. While a golf club was located near the couch, it wasn't within Terry's immediate access when the shooting occurred.
Questioning the Self-Protection Claim
Maria Thompson's self-defense assertion faced substantial challenges from the physical evidence. The positioning of the gunshot wounds proved particularly problematic for her claim. Terry sustained a total of nine gunshot wounds - two to his chest initially, with one shot blocked by his raised left arm, followed by six more to his back after he fell from the couch.
The shooting pattern suggests Terry was first shot while lying on the couch, then repeatedly shot in the back after falling to the floor. All nine bullets struck their intended target, indicating deliberate aim rather than panicked defense. Though Maria claimed Terry had threatened to kill her that morning and throughout their argument, investigators noted inconsistencies in her explanation of why she hadn't called 911 earlier, particularly when they observed her phone was still attached to her duty belt.
Collected Materials and Results
Forensic examination confirmed critical details that contradicted Maria's account:
Weapons inventory:
Maria's service weapon (used in shooting)
Second gun (secured in a safe)
Machete (located in bedroom)
Golf club (near couch but not within reach)
Items with Terry at time of death:
Cell phone
Laptop computer
Blanket
No weapons
Maria claimed Terry had thrown a remote control at her during their argument, but investigators found no misplaced devices. When emergency services arrived, Maria was wearing her Customs and Border Control uniform, including her service weapon which she had placed on top of the refrigerator before deputies arrived. She showed no visible injuries and maintained a calm demeanor throughout the initial response.
Based on the physical evidence and scene analysis, investigators concluded Maria's claim of self-defense was unfounded. The positioning of Terry on the couch with everyday items and the pattern of shots indicated he was not in an aggressive stance when the shooting began.
Aftermath
The Arrest Process
Following the shooting on August 9, 2019, Maria Thompson surrendered to authorities immediately after calling 911. When law enforcement arrived at the residence, she emerged wearing her full Customs and Border Control uniform. Officers noted her calm demeanor—she showed no visible distress or injuries. Maria was immediately taken into custody while paramedics attended to Terry. During initial questioning, she maintained she acted in self-defense, claiming Terry had threatened to kill her repeatedly throughout their argument. Detectives found inconsistencies in her account, particularly regarding her claim that she couldn't call for help earlier because her phone wasn't accessible—the same phone was found clipped to her duty belt. Based on the crime scene evidence, investigators rejected her self-defense claim and she was charged with first-degree murder.
Child Welfare Considerations
The Thompson children, ages 6 and 7, became a primary concern for authorities immediately after the incident. Neither child witnessed the shooting directly, though the older child reportedly heard gunshots. During her arrest, Maria's main questions focused on her children's welfare, requesting that family members be contacted to care for them. She expressed concern about what the children had been told about the situation, as her older child had been asking questions about whether "Daddy got shot." Law enforcement arranged for immediate child protective measures, ensuring the children received appropriate care while their mother remained in custody. The emotional impact on these young children, who lost their father to violence and their mother to the legal system, remained a significant consideration throughout the investigation.
Evidence Analysis Results
Crime scene technicians discovered compelling physical evidence that contradicted Maria's self-defense claims:
Gunshot pattern: Terry Thompson was shot 9 times with Maria's service weapon
2 initial shots to the chest
1 shot blocked by his raised left arm
6 additional shots to his back after he fell
Victim's position: Evidence indicated Terry had been:
Lying on the couch in his underwear
Covered with a blanket
Using a laptop computer
In a relaxed, non-threatening posture
Investigators found no weapons within Terry's reach. While Maria had mentioned a machete in the bedroom and another gun in a safe, these were not accessible to Terry at the time of the shooting. Though Maria claimed Terry had been threatening her, detectives found no evidence of immediate danger. The only sign of previous aggression was a thrown remote control, which was not found out of place. The forensic evidence, particularly the six shots fired into Terry's back as he lay on the floor, significantly undermined Maria's claim of self-defense.
