YOUNGSTOWN City woman shot and killed outside home

YOUNGSTOWN -- A 21-year-old North Side woman was gunned down today in a car outside her home.
Police said Tawonna Thomas, 21, of Stansbury Drive in the Brier Hill section of the city was fatally shot in the head shortly after 3 a.m. today. Called by neighbors only moments after the shooting, police found Thomas lying in the street in front of her next-door-neighbor's apartment.
A large-caliber shell casing, possibly a .45-caliber, was found near her, police said.
Thomas was pronounced dead at 4:47 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Police issued a warrant today for the arrest of Tremaine P. Brown of Youngstown, Thomas' 24-year-old boyfriend who has East Florida Avenue and Florencedale Avenue addresses, said police Lt. Robin Lees.
The two had an argument inside Thomas' apartment before the shooting, Lees said. The argument progressed to the point that Thomas got a blanket and told Brown that she was going to spend the night in her car, Lees said. A few minutes later, Brown went to the car, shot Thomas in the head and pulled her body out of the car, Lees said. Thomas was wrapped in a blanket when her body was found.
Police have witnesses to the shooting, Lees said.
There have been eight deaths in the city this year ruled as homicides by the Mahoning County Coroner's Office. The office hasn't ruled on Thomas' death -- an autopsy on her body will be conducted, although police are investigating it as a homicide -- and two other fatal shootings in Youngstown.
There were 17 homicides at this time in 2002.