Sunday, June 22, 2003
The victim was shot once in the abdomen with a .22-caliber handgun.
YOUNGSTOWN -- An East Myrtle Avenue woman, accused of shooting her aunt after an argument last winter, was indicted Thursday on a murder charge.
Christina Homa, 21, faces 15 years to life in prison if she is convicted. She could get an additional three years for using a firearm, for which she was also indicted by a county grand jury.
Died days later
Police say Homa shot her 45-year-old aunt, Evelyn G. Huffman of Funston Avenue, once in the abdomen. Homa was originally charged with felonious assault, but when Huffman died four days later, the charge was changed to murder.
Jay Macejko, assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, said that Huffman went to Homa's house Jan. 27 with a male friend and that an argument broke out between Homa and Huffman.
Almost immediately after the argument, Homa fired two shots from a .22-caliber handgun, Macejko said. One shot hit the floor and the other hit Huffman.
Witnesses cooperate
Macejko said that there were several witnesses to the shooting and that they have been cooperative with police in the investigation. However, police still have been unable to determine why the two women were arguing, he said.
Homa was being held in the county jail on a $500,000 bond. She will be arraigned in two weeks in common pleas court.
bjackson@vindy.com