.svg)
Son Receives Decades in Prison for Fatal Shooting After Dispute with Mom
A Tennessee man, now 21, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his mother, a crime he committed at the age of 16 after she took away his phone. Shawn Willis entered a guilty plea to a charge of second-degree murder, avoiding a first-degree murder trial. The sentence, handed down on Tuesday, will be served in its entirety, according to District Attorney General Dave Clark.
The tragic incident occurred on April 20, 2020, at the family's home in Rocky Top. Willis, then 16, got into an argument with his mother, Sandy Willis, after she confiscated his phone. After she went to bed, he took her gun from her nightstand, went downstairs to load it, and returned to her room. He shot her twice at close range as she slept. The first shot, to the back of her head, did not kill her. He fired a second shot into her temple as she began to move, which proved fatal.
Willis initially attempted to cover up the crime, telling police he found his mother dead after waking up. He called his girlfriend, whose father then contacted authorities. However, his story changed multiple times under questioning. Confronted by an officer about the inconsistencies, Willis eventually confessed to killing his mother over the phone dispute.
During the sentencing, Willis appeared despondent and avoided eye contact with his family as they delivered powerful victim impact statements. His father, Jeremy, spoke directly to his son in court, expressing profound grief and anger. "You were very selfish in many ways. You took my wife, the woman I was supposed to grow old with," he said in footage captured by Court TV. He also spoke of the deep pain inflicted upon Willis's younger brothers, who will never get to hear "I love you" from their mother again. "I love you, but I do not agree in any way, shape, or form [with] what you have done. Mom didn't deserve what she had done [to her]," he added.
Read also: Tragic Death of Hope McGrath: Mother Charged with Murder as Family Shares Heartbreaking Photo
Willis's older brother, Lucian, also addressed him, highlighting the irreparable damage done to the family. "You didn't just take a life, you took our mother. The strongest woman I have ever known and my best friend, my anchor, the person I needed most," he said. He concluded by stating that the brother he once knew was "gone" and that their family's peace was stolen forever.
The court proceedings revealed a plea deal that reduced the charge from first-degree to second-degree murder, leading to the 30-year sentence. This agreement means Willis avoids the possibility of a life sentence without parole, but the mandatory 100% service of his sentence ensures a lengthy term behind bars. The case has been a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of anger and violence, leaving a family shattered by an act committed over a seemingly minor dispute.
