Phenix City woman shot, killed 12-year-old boy who was ‘rummaging’ in her yard, DA says
A 12-year-old boy killed earlier this week in Phenix City was with his brother and another boy on the suspect’s property when he was fatally shot, authorities said Friday.
Connor Mullins, who just turned 12, and the others were on land that belongs to 50-year-old Tywoana Jakes on Windtree Drive off U.S. 80. The land is across the street from Jakes’ home and belongs to the Jakes family.
Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey Friday said the boys were on the property about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday “apparently doing mischief and rummaging through stuff” when Jakes approached the children with a gun.
Two of the boys started to run away and apparently Connor bent down. Jakes fired a shot, striking the boy in the neck. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
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.
“She said she shot, and I have a dead 12-year-old boy who was doing something he shouldn’t have been doing,’’ Chancey said. “It’s hard to digest.”
Jakes appeared in a Russell County courtroom Friday where the charges against her were explained. She is charged with capital murder because the victim was under the age of 14.
Authorities are also investigating an incident where Jakes is accused of shooting someone else on her property in 2022. No charges have yet been filed in that case.
Jakes told authorities Friday she will hire her own attorneys and was given 30 days to do so.
Russell County Circuit Judge Zack Collins Sr. ordered Jakes remain held without bond.
“I hope we’re not in a society now where this is going to be the thing,’’ Chaney 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.”
“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.”
The investigation is ongoing. Chancey said the case will presented to a grand jury for indictment consideration.
A preliminary hearing in the case is set for next month.