A former college football player accidentally fatally shot his mother over the weekend — thinking she was an intruder trying to break into their Missouri home.
“He hasn’t stopped crying,” said William Goldstein, the 25-year-old man’s lawyer, to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch over the weekend.
Jaylen Johnson thought his mother was an intruder when she tried to enter the back door of their Olivette home, located in the suburbs of St. Louis, and he shot her around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, cops said.
The son kept a gun in the house for protection after he was robbed at gunpoint, his lawyer said.
Olivette police said Jaylen’s mom, 56-year-old Monica McNichols-Johnson, died at the home, despite life-saving efforts made by Johnson’s girlfriend.
The son immediately called 911 after the shooting and has been distraught since, his lawyer said.
Prosecutors charged Johnson with manslaughter and armed criminal action.
His bail was set at $100,000.
Johnson formerly played football in college, is employed and has no criminal history, according to his lawyer and officials.
With Post wires