Last Updated on February 6, 2023
A woman from Phenix City, Alabama is facing first-degree murder charges after shooting 12-year-old Connor Mullins for playing in her yard on February 1.
According to authorities, Tywoana Anderson- Jakes, 50, found Mullins and two other children playing on the edge of her property across the street from her main residence on the evening of February 1. When the boys realized that Jakes had come outside, two of them turned and ran away, but Mullins bent down.
At that point, Jakes fired a single shot that struck the 12-year-old in the neck, killing him instantly.
Phenix City, Alabama. 50-yr-old Tywoana Jakes has been charged with capital murder for killing 12-yr-old Connor Mullens on a lot across the street from her main residence. District Attorney Rick Chancey said she appeared to have little remorse. https://t.co/aTDsjLZvNB pic.twitter.com/vOTousqT7Q
— The Sentinel (@sentinelpatrol) February 3, 2023
Chancey said there is no indication that Connor was armed. He also said there’s no indication that Jakes and the boys knew each other, AL.com reported.
According to Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey, Mullins and his friends were simply on the property “apparently doing mischief” when they were confronted by Jakes. “She said she shot, and I have a dead 12-year-old boy who was doing something he shouldn’t have been doing,” Chancey stated, adding that the whole situation was “hard to digest.”
“I hope we’re not in a society now where this is going to be the thing,’’ Chancey said. “I don’t want us to turn into a society where we take the law in our own hands and if somebody’s on our property, we shoot them or if we think it’s self-defense, we shoot them.”
Jakes is currently being charged with Capital Murder since the victim is under the age of 14. Authorities are also investigating an earlier incident in which Jakes is accused of shooting someone else on her property last year. Charges have not been filed in that case as of this time.
“There are still laws we have to abide by and if you’re going to have a gun, you have to know the laws and know what you can and can’t do,’’ Chancey said. “Once you pull that trigger, you can’t undo it. The stakes are bad.”
Russell County Circuit Judge Zack Collins Sr. ordered Jakes to be held without bond. A preliminary hearing is currently slated for next month.
