Man pleads guilty to killing his mum with her own gun after she took away his phone

A 21-year-old is set to serve three decades behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering his mum in 2020 because he was "upset" she confiscated his mobile phone.

Shawn Tyler Willis, from Tennessee, admitted to one count of second-degree murder on Monday in Tennessee, after shooting his mother dead in April 2020 for taking away his mobile phone, as reportedby Law and Crime.

Sandy K. Willis was discovered lifeless in her bed at home by the Anderson County Sheriff's Department. Sandy was shot with her own firearm at close range on the left side of her head while she was asleep, the outlet detailed. Willis pleaded guilty and received a 30-year sentence in state prison.

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A press release issued by District Attorney General Dave Clark stated that Willis would serve "100%" of his sentence behind bars. According to the outlet, the crime occurred on 20 April 2020, when a then-16 year old Willis was accused of it, reports the Mirror US.

Law and Crime reported that the Anderson County Sheriff's Department found Sandy K. Willis deceased in her own bed on Andys Ridge Road in Rocky Top, about 26 miles from Knoxville.

The police reported that Sandy had been killed at close range while she slept.

The outlet reported that, on the day he murdered his mother, Willis phoned his girlfriend to tell her that he had found his mother dead in her bed, covered in blood. The girlfriend's father then went to the home to check on Sandy Willis, where he found her unresponsive and called the police, reported.

Police later revealed that the teenager, already a prime suspect in the case, had given "numerous conflicting stories."

A month on, Willis admitted to the murder whilst speaking to Detective Don Scuglia. "Shawn T. Willis confessed to taking his mother's pistol from off of her nightstand as she was asleep," stated a juvenile court petition filed in the case.

"Shawn took the pistol downstairs, as to muffle the sound of loading it, then Shawn returned back upstairs to his mother's room," it continued. "Shawn walked around the victim's bed, to the opposite side of the room, positioned himself alongside her bed, and shot her at close range, on the left side of her head, thus causing her death."

Throughout the investigation, authorities discovered that Willis shot his mum twice after she returned home from working the late shift. Authorities concluded that Willis decided to kill his mum after she confiscated his mobile phone, leaving him "upset."

As he was 16 years old when he murdered his mum, and because he pleaded guilty, prosecutors reduced the charge from first-degree murder to second-degree murder. In a statement, Clark said he was "happy that it has been resolved."

"We remain grateful for the support of this grieving family that has suffered a wound that cannot heal," he added. The family of Sandy were present in the courtroom during the sentencing hearing and was "pleased" at the verdict.