Pinellas Park Police Investigating a Homicide at a Home in Pinellas Park
Pinellas Park Police are investigating a homicide that resulted in a death of a woman. It occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. on August 8, 2017 at 6998 59th Street North in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Police say a domestic dispute occurred between Thomas Lee Owens and his live in girlfriend and homicide victim, 59 year-old Nellie Denise Collins.
Prior to the argument, Owens had armed himself with a handgun and sat in the living room with the victim and another family member Tracy Starks who is the sister of Owens.
The argument escalated and Owens took out the pistol and shot the victim who died at the scene. Owens proceeded to point his gun at his sister, however he never fired the gun and she was able to flee the scene to a neighbor’s house where she was able to call 911.
52 year-old Thomas Lee Owens has been arrested and is facing charges of Second Degree Murder. In addition, he has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Records indicated he was incarcerated 3 times by the Florida Department of Corrections for convictions related to drug offences.