YOUNGSTOWN Murder trial begins for S. Side man

Police say he killed the victim in her car, then used it to get away.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jury selection began Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for the trial of a man accused of killing his girlfriend last summer.
Tremaine P. Brown, 25, of East Florida Avenue, is charged with murder, for which he faces a life imprisonment sentence if convicted. He would be eligible for parole after serving at least 15 years.
Police say Brown killed his 21-year-old girlfriend, Tawanna Thomas of Stansbury Drive, in her car, threw her to the street and took the vehicle to leave the crime scene June 18.
Brown was indicted by a county grand jury June 26 and has been in the county jail awaiting trial.
Chain of events
Police said Brown and Thomas had an argument inside Thomas' apartment before the shooting. Thomas went to her car to go to sleep and to get away from Brown.
A witness told police that Brown followed her outside, pulled a semiautomatic pistol out of his pocket and pointed it toward the car. Brown tried to fire the gun, but it didn't go off, the witness told police.
Brown then walked up to the vehicle, continuing to argue with Thomas, and shot her in the head, police said. Police found a large-caliber shell casing near the victim's body.
Brown then pulled Thomas out of the car and drove away, police said. Thomas was found lying in the street in front of her neighbor's apartment. She died less than two hours after being shot.
Thomas' car was found in Campbell a day later with the keys inside.
Arrest
Five days after the shooting, police arrested Brown in Campbell, a few blocks from where Thomas' car was found.
Brown contends the shooting was an accident. His attorney, Douglas B. Taylor, has asked Judge James C. Evans to allow jurors to view the crime scene before hearing testimony in the case.
bjackson@vindy.com