The ex-boyfriend of a young mother fatally gunned down outside her Bessemer home three years ago has pleaded guilty in her slaying.

De’Anthius Jacobien Edwards, 23, was set to go on trial Monday in the shooting death of 21-year-old Joanne “LaShay” Jackson, the mother of 3-year-old twins at the time she was killed.

Edwards instead pleaded guilty to the charge of murder. Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff Circuit Judge David Carpenter sentenced Edwards to 18 years in prison.

Edwards is set to turn himself in to begin serving his sentence on May 13.

The family released this statement to AL.com following the guilty plea and sentencing:

“The past three years our family have felt nothing but pain and sorrow. Our hearts hurt so bad to know she’s never coming back but we know she’s always smiling down on us and that we’ll never forget you.”

“To know her was to love her – very goofy and outgoing.”

“A piece of our puzzle was taken April 14, 2021, and now that justice is served we can go on with our life wishing we could have you instead. Keep resting peacefully Shay. We love you dearly.”

The shooting happened about 9:15 p.m. that Wednesday in the 2800 block of Carolina Terrace. Jackson was taken to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 10:10 p.m.

Her family said Jackson had broken things off with Edwards about a month prior to the shooting and that he had shown back up on that Tuesday and smashed her cell phone.

He returned the following night.

Jackson’s father, David Jackson, said at the time that his other daughter was there as well.

“She said he came in talking crazy and she told him to leave,’’ David Jackson said his other daughter told him. “As he was walking down the steps, she walked out too to make sure he was leaving.”

“By the time he got halfway down the stairs, he just started shooting,’’ he said. “I think the second shot hit her in the chest.”

Edwards surrendered to Bessemer police the day after the killing.

Jackson was a graduate of Jess Lanier High School.

Her father said she returned to high school after she gave birth to the twins – a boy and a girl – and he was so proud of her for getting her diploma. After high school graduation, she attended cosmetology school and was looking forward to starting her own salon someday.

“To know her was to love her,’’ said her father said. “I’m devastated.”