23-year-old woman shot to death by ex-boyfriend who turned the gun on himself, HCSO says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A 23-year-old woman was shot to death in her bedroom in southwest Harris County in an apparent murder-suicide, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

According to deputies, on Sunday, the victim, identified by family as Tamara Sawyer, was contacted by her on-and-off again ex-boyfriend since high school.

"He called her earlier today, then around 3 o'clock this afternoon, he showed up, and (Sawyer) allowed him in," HCSO Sgt. Greg Pinkins said.

Family members said she lived at home in the 4000 block of Rain Willow Court.

She was at the residence with her current boyfriend and two other family members when the ex-boyfriend arrived, according to Sgt. Pinkins.

According to officials, the family told deputies that Sawyer and the ex-boyfriend went to her room for 10 minutes before gunshots were heard.

"Other family members there heard three gunshots, and they went to the room and discovered her with gunshot wounds," Sgt. Pinkins said.

"He still had a gun at the time."

The ex-boyfriend then is said to have turned the gun on himself as the family called 911, officials said.

Sawyers's family members will remember her as the family's baby, "a sweetheart who loved fashion and was always on the right path."

According to her family, Sawyer recently enrolled back at Houston Community College to study nursing, which was a passion of hers.

In September, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said about 35% of homicides in Harris County had been domestic violence related so far this year.

HCOS deputies said they were unaware of any history of violence between Sawyer and her ex-boyfriend.

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