A 25-year-old Missouri man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter after he allegedly shot and killed his mother when he thought she was an intruder coming into the back door of the home they shared in Olivette.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said that Monica McNichols-Johnson, 56, died at the scene on Thursday, KSDK reported.
Her son, Jaylen Johnson, was also charged with armed criminal action. He’s being held on a $100,000 bond, according to police, who said they believed Johnson posed a danger to the community.
Johnson’s attorney, Will Goldstein, disagreed.
“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,” Goldstein said. “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.”
Goldstein said he’d known the family for some time and noted that Johnson is 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,” said Goldstein, who added that Johnson had a gun for protection after he’d been previously robbed at gunpoint, the Associated Press said.
A bond review is scheduled for March 13.
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[Featured image: Jaylen Johnson/Olivette Police Department]
