Mom Makes Gut-Wrenching Decision To Turn In Son Responsible for Fatal Carjacking
In a loving family, parents protect their children. They shield them from the harsh realities of the world until they’re old enough to start handling problems themselves and they train them what to do in tricky situations.
Sometimes, though, despite the best upbringing, kids can still make some pretty terrible choices. Occasionally that results in broken bones, broken hearts, or tough life lessons.
But what do you do when your child commits a crime? It’s no longer just your situation to figure out as a parent: Your child has gone beyond your jurisdiction and has made a negative impact on the world.
One unnamed mother was faced with that dilemma when she caught a glimpse of a familiar face on a surveillance video that was being broadcasted on local news.
Two men had been sleeping in a parked car when they were accosted by three other men. One of the three attackers was the woman’s 15-year-old son.
As they attempted to steal the car and rushed the two men out of the vehicle, one of the men who had been asleep in the car — Terrick Matthews — was shot in the neck and died.
“It wasn’t necessary for them to take his life,” said Ebony Johnson, a detective, during an interview with WSB-TV. “They were in compliance. They were getting out of the vehicle at that point.”
“Think about it as being one of your family members that lost their life,” he continued. “You would want them to be brought to justice.”
Matthews had two kids, had just gotten a new job and had called his mom to wish her a happy birthday within hours of the attack. Within moments, his life was snuffed out for no good reason.
After the car was stolen, the three men went to a gas station, filled an empty soda bottle with gasoline, drove less than a mile away, and set the car on fire.
While they were at the gas station, security cameras caught their suspicious behavior. The footage was spread on the news, and that’s when this mother, who understandably did not want her name shared, recognized her teenager as one of the suspects.
On Saturday, the mother took her son to the police and the 15-year-old turned himself in. One other man has been identified, but people are on the lookout for the third.
There were five men who were listed as persons of interest, and anyone who recognizes them is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers to help bring justice to Matthews’ family.
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