OLIVETTE, Mo. — A grand jury dismissed the charges against an Olivette man who was arrested in the fatal shooting of his mother.
According to the original charging documents from the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, 25-year-old Jaylen Johnson shot and killed his mother, Monica McNichols-Johnson, while she was trying to gain entry to the back of their home on March 7 in the 9600 block of Huron Drive. Johnson was charged with voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.
Editor's note: The above video aired on March 8.
Olivette police said 56-year-old Monica McNichols-Johnson was found with a gunshot wound. Paramedics tried life-saving measures before she died at the scene, according to the city's news release.
Johnson was being held at the St. Louis County Jail on a $100,000 bond, no 10%, police said. Police said they believed the defendant posed a danger to the community or any other person due to the facts and context of this shooting.
On April 10, a grand jury determined there wasn't enough evidence to support the charges, and Johnson was discharged and released.
Attorney Will Goldstein said he's known the family for some time.
"I got a frantic call from Monica’s father telling me what happened that Jaylen thought an intruder was coming from the back door and he fired shots. This thing is all tragic and he hasn’t stopped crying since. Jaylen loves his mom and his mom loved him … Jaylen immediately called 911 and immediately called his grandfather and said he can’t believe this happened," he said.
Goldstein pointed out the access to guns.
"As long as we have this easy accessibility to guns in the community whether for good or bad, whether to just to defend your premises, unfortunately things like this happen," he said.
Just 24 hours after the shooting, Goldstein was there to represent his client the very next morning in Johnson's initial appearance in court.
"I can tell you he's a mess right now. We are very hopeful he will get out on bond. He’s employed and has no criminal history. He was a college athlete and he’s a man with a bright future. Knowing Monica as I did, she would want nothing more for her son than him to land on his feet and have a good life," Goldstein said.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
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