Two Die Outside Daycare Center

J A C K S O N, Miss. Jan. 25 -- A mother of two died today after her boyfriend shot her during astruggle with the woman's teenage son, police said.

Witnesses said James Owens, 28, killed Relda Thompson, 38, in front of a Jackson day care center shortly after she dropped off her youngest child.

Seventeen-year-old Elonta Thompson, the woman's oldest son, was injured in theconfrontation but no other children at Kids University were harmed,police said.

Police spokesman Robert Graham said that during the argument theman pulled a pistol and pointed it at the woman. The son attempted to shield his mother and began struggling with Owens.

The boyfriend then, pushed the son away and opened fire, hittingthe woman twice.

The two men continued struggling over the gun until the olderman was shot to death.

Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said thefemale was shot once in the back of the head and once in the chest and the male was shot twice in the head.

No Other Children Harmed

Assistant Police Chief James French said children at the centerwere not harmed.

Jessie Dawson, owner of Kids University, said the teenage son drove the woman to the day care center. She was walking the younger child inside when the boyfriendarrived in another vehicle.

She said the child and the other children were already inside when theargument began.

"He wouldn't let her get back in the car and then, oh Lord, Iheard gunshots." Dawson said. "It sounded like three, but I'm notsure."

Relatives of the shooting victims and parents of the childrenwho had been inside the center at the time of the shooting arrivedduring the morning hours but were not immediately allowed into thebuilding.