Man 'hasn't stopped crying' after killing own mum he thought was intruder

11 March 2024 , 18:10

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A 25-year-old Missouri man has been charged with shooting and killing his mother as she tried to enter the back door of their home.

A Missouri man has claimed he mistook his mum for an intruder before shooting her to death in their home.

Jaylen Johnson has been charged with manslaughter and armed criminal action in connection with the death of his mother, Monica McNichols-Johnson, on Thursday. The 25-year-old’s lawyer, William Goldstein, told the St Louis Post-Dispatch that Johnson had wrongly believed his mum was a burglar when she entered the St Louis home at 7:30am last Thursday.

Police said Monica, 56, died at the scene despite efforts by Johnson’s girlfriend to help after the shooting. Johnson, who remains distraught according to lawyers, called 911 immediately following the shooting and paramedics were dispatched to the scene.

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Jaylen Johnson allegedly believed his mother was an intruder when he opened fire

William claims Johnson has been beside himself ever since the incident. "He hasn't stopped crying," he said.

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Johnson is a former college football player who has no criminal history. William claimed "he has a bright future" as the lawyer added: "[He's] just a sweetheart of a kid.”

Johnson's bail has been set at $100,000 (£78,000.) His lawyers pointed to the fact that Johnson has no criminal record, arguing he kept the gun for protection after previously being robbed at gunpoint.

Johnson has been distraught ever since his mother's death, his lawyers claim

This tragic death comes less than a year after the shooting of Missouri resident Ralph Yarl, then 16, by 84-year-old Andrew Lester. Lester also claimed to believe the teen was an intruder after he rang the wrong doorbell while picking up his sister.

He was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Lester was released on a $200,000 and has pleaded not guilty. He is awaiting trial.

The shooting saw debates around Missouri’s “stand your ground” gun laws enter the mainstream once again. The controversial policy allows people to legally deploy deadly force if they reasonably believe they are at risk of violence.

Firearm deaths rose in Missouri last year, despite a drop in violent crime when compared to 2022. Across the state, just under 500 people died as a result of a firearm-related crime, according to the St. Louis and Kansas City police departments.

Henry Moore