City's first homicide victim of the year identified

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CT Post) - The new year wasn't even four hours old when the city recorded its first homicide of 2012.

The victim was identified Monday morning by detectives as Greg Thomas , 26, of 1323 Howard Ave., who was apparently shot in front of his home.

Police say he was shot at about 3:35 a.m Sunday. According to witnesses, he was walking with his girlfriend on Howard Avenue when men in a parked car shouted something at the pair. Angry words were exchanged, and a few minutes later, the same car drove slowly by the couple as they were returning to Thomas' house, and one of the occupants of the car fired a shot at Thomas, killing him almost instantly.

The victim was pronounced dead at St. Vincent 's Medical Center shortly after the shooting.