A mom was shot in the head four times and killed by her own son in front of her husband and younger son, police claim. Tatanisha Jackson was walking into the family home in South Shore, Chicago, on Saturday afternoon when 17-year-old Davion Pryer opened fire in front of his dad and younger brother, prosecutors say.
According to investigators, Davion, who had just picked his younger brother up with his dad, had called his mom 10 minutes earlier, claiming there were people drinking on their back porch. As Jackson opened her front door, she was blasted in the head at point-blank range.
Authorities arrested Davion the same day just before 10 p.m. in the 7000 block of South Cottage Grove. He will be tried as an adult on the charge of first-degree murder.
The incident occurred soon after Jackson arrived home with her family
The crime sent shockwaves throughout the community and the courtroom as Judge David Kelly, who called the incident a tragedy, could barely contain his emotion while he presided, taking several moments to collect himself.
“This is very sad and tragic to this court…” Kelly said. “The unprovoked shooting and killing of your mother in front of your father and brother.”
Jackson arrived to Cornell Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood where she lived following her son’s call and unlocked the door. Pryor, who was on the other side, swung the door open and unloaded four bullets into her skull at point-blank range, making a horrific mess.
The mom’s death sent shockwaves throughout the neighborhood
Pryor’s father and 7-year-old brother, whom the parents had just picked from school, were inches away when the mother was shot. The dad swiftly scooped up the young boy and called 911 as he listened to more gunshots, according to detectives.
The commotion caught the attention of community members, including a man who had just gotten out of work when he heard more than a dozen gunshots. “So everything was peaceful, and then out of nowhere, shots let off,” said Ronald Jackson. “We hear like eight shots. After the eight shots, I’m like, ‘No, that wasn’t no gunshots.’ Then it was six more.”
Jackson said he recognized photos of the slain mother going around social media. “I’ve seen her a couple times. Sorry to hear that. Just, you know, death in this city—it’s sad. Every day, every year, it just happens,” he said. “So I feel sorry for their family.”
Officers later arrived to the scene and found Jackson’s corpse rife with gunshot wounds to the head and body. They added that a gun and about 12 shell casings were found at the scene. The mom was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center where she died.
Jackson left behind her husband as well as two other sons and an older stepdaughter. Judge Kelly ruled that Pryor will remain in custody after he said the attack was unjustified and unprovoked. The arrested teen is slated to appear in court Friday, Sept 28.
Prosecutors say Pryor has two pending cases in juvenile court for aggravated battery and vehicular hijacking. He was on home confinement at the time of the shooting and was set to appear in court on Oct. 3.