Jaylen Johnson, a former college football star, accidentally shot his mother, thinking she was an intruder, in a tragic Missouri incident.
Police arrested Johnson after he mistakenly killed his mother at their Olivette home, opening fire as she entered the back door early Thursday.
His attorney, William Goldstein, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Johnson had been devastated and crying since the incident.
Johnson, 25, kept a firearm for safety, having been previously robbed. He and his mother, Monica McNichols-Johnson, 56, shared the Huran Drive home. She died at the scene.
After the shooting, Johnson immediately called 911. Despite his girlfriend’s efforts and paramedic intervention, Monica succumbed to her injuries.
Not to be confused with NFL player Jaylon Johnson, Jaylen faces manslaughter and armed criminal action charges, with bail set at $100,000. He has no prior criminal record.
This event may spark further debate about Missouri’s “stand your ground” law, which allows deadly force in self-defence.