Thomas Owens, a 33-year-old male from Youngstown, OH, tragically lost his life on November 14, 2015, due to a drive-by shooting. Owens was shot in the head while inside a car on West Myrtle Avenue, and he was the only one hit in the attack. Four other people in the car were injured but survived the incident.
The investigation into Owens' death led to the arrest of three suspects: Jason Heard, Leonard Savage, and Jawonn Hymes.
Heard and Savage were both found guilty of their involvement in the shooting. Heard was sentenced to 28 years to life for aggravated murder and other related charges, while Savage received a 25 years to life sentence for complicity to commit aggravated murder and other charges. Hymes was awaiting trial for his role in the shooting.
The motive behind the shooting was believed to be a retaliation for Owens' involvement in the death of Savage's uncle in 2004. Owens had pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in that case and was sentenced accordingly.
The tragic loss of Thomas Owens and the subsequent legal proceedings highlighted the devastating impact of senseless violence on individuals and their families. The community of Youngstown, OH, mourned the loss of a young man whose life was cut short by a violent act.
