A Black man in Missouri is facing criminal charges after fatally shooting who he believed was an intruder but found he really fired at his own mother. Now, his attorney is trying to help him plead his case.
“He hasn’t stopped crying,” said attorney William Goldstein to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Jaylen Johnson, 25, told the police he was at his home the morning of March 7. when 56-year-old Monica McNichols-Johnson tried to enter their Olivette home through the backdoor. Thinking she was an intruder, police say Johnson shot her. Johnson immediately called 911, his attorney said. According to a CBS report, Johnson’s girlfriend was present and tried to administer aid to Johnson’s mother until the paramedics arrived.
Even after they performed life-saving measures, they said Ms. Johnson died on the scene.
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“I got a frantic call from Monica’s father telling me what happened that Jaylen thought an intruder was coming from the back door and he fired shots. This thing is all tragic and he hasn’t stopped crying since. Jaylen loves his mom and his mom loved him ... Jaylen immediately called 911 and immediately called his grandfather and said he can’t believe this happened,” he said.
Goldstein pointed out the access to guns.
“As long as we have this easy accessibility to guns in the community whether for good or bad, whether to just to defend your premises, unfortunately things like this happen,” he said.
Johnson has been in jail since the incident on a $100,000 bond. Police said they believe he’s a danger to the community. However, Goldstein told the Post-Dispatch Johnson is a sweetheart who was just trying to protect himself after having been robbed at gunpoint before.
“I can tell you he’s a mess right now. We are very hopeful he will get out on bond. He’s employed and has no criminal history. He was a college athlete and he’s a man with a bright future. Knowing Monica as I did, she would want nothing more for her son than him to land on his feet and have a good life,” Goldstein said to KSDK.
His bond review is Wednesday March 13, per KSDK. He’s been charged with manslaughter and armed criminal action.