Age 9 Boy Bravely Helps Police Track Down His Mother's Killer
There are few things more brutal than having someone snatched away from you on a whim while you stand by helplessly.
It’s a possibility we might never face, but for others, it’s a terrible reality. It’s difficult enough for adults to deal with this sort of loss, but when this horrible scenario involves children, it’s even more tragic.
According to an advisory from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia, that’s exactly what one boy named Justin witnessed — but he didn’t let his tragedy get impede justice.
“Last night Lake City Police responded to Rainwood Apartments on Harper Drive to a call where a woman was shot multiple times in front of her 9 year old son by her boyfriend,” the statement read.
“The 9 year old told Police that the man identified as Darius Deandre Evans after an argument shot his mother multiple times, walked out of the apartment, and then came back in and began shooting her again.”
“The victim was pronounced dead upon arrival to Southern Regional Hospital.”
The boy not only saw his mother, Iyonna Hodo, shot, he saw — or at least knew — that his mother had been shot multiple times. Despite the pain he must have been experiencing, he told police he wanted Evans arrested and charged, and did his best to ensure that end.
“The 9 year old made it clear that he wanted the man who killed his mother caught and was even brave enough to ride with the Sheriff to show him where he thought Evans may have fled,” the statement continued.
After a 6-hour manhunt, Evans was finally caught. He’ll likely be facing maximum penalties and has been taken to jail.
“Wow, just buried my brother, now my niece, when it rains its pour,” Hodo’s aunt Yolanda Stokes wrote on Facebook. “Rest in Peace Iyonna ( Yummie ) Hodo, FB please keep her son Justin in your prayers.”
“Why are People so quick to take another person life. Yummie your with your dad now… Rest Now…. Love you….. Aunte?????❤️❤️❤️❤️”
A GoFundMe has been set up for Hodo and her son, and “any donation received will go to funeral costs and to secure assistance for her son,” according to the page.
“Her biggest goal was to raise her son into becoming a man and for a heartless senseless person of 3 years to get that close to her and kill her is completely unacceptable,” the page continued. “This kid is the bravest kid I know to call police for his mom.”
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