ATLANTA — The daughters of a woman accused of shooting her own son in the head while trying to break up a fight are defending their mother.
College Park police charged Latoya Tilson with the death of her son 15-year old Pierre. Pierre died at Grady hospital three days after the shooting.
With her father's permission, 12-year old Lashae Tilson explained what happened at that Godby Road apartment complex Friday evening. She said she, Pierre and her sister Coco were attacked by a group of people after they mistakenly believe the three had made fun of one of their friends. Lashae said Pierre defended his sisters then ran inside and told his mother what had happened. She said her mother but a gun in her pocket and stepped outside to confront the group.
"She just came outside, but this time, she came protected," said Lashae. "She knew something was going to go down, so she came protected."
But Lashae said the group started beating up Tilson. When she got her hands free, Lashae said she attempted to shoot her attacker.
"So they were jumping on her," said Lashae. "She came up. When she realized her hands were free, she came up off the ground shooting. The boy that she was trying to shoot, he ducked, and my brother was in the way. He got hit."
Police said Pierre suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. They also said Tilson fired another shot wounding another person, though that injury was not thought too be life threatening.
"Once she found out what she did, she tried to do something to her own self," said Lashae.
Lashae's father, John Beals, said Tilson is on suicide watch at the Fulton County Jail.
"So look at yourself, and put yourself in their shoes. What would you do?" said Beals. "You never know. You just don't want anybody beating on your kids."
Pierre's father, Wayne Jones, said he's working to create a memorial fund to help pay for his son's funeral. He also wants to bury Pierre in his Southwest DeKalb High School band uniform. Pierre performed on the drumline there.
College Park Police confirm they are talking with the Fulton County District Attorney's Office about the possibiility of upgrading the assault charges.
WSBTV
