A mother from Kansas is in custody after confessing to the fatal shooting of her son, claiming she only meant to frighten him with the firearm, as reported by authorities.
Tesha Florence, 46, who is also referred to as Tesha Jenkins, faces serious charges including one count of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated burglary, as per records from Sedgwick County Jail.
“I shot my baby,” the suspect reportedly stated during her arrest earlier this month, as per the Wichita Police Department.
Early on the morning of October 9, law enforcement arrived at the scene of a shooting at Jenkins’ residence on E. Harry Street, as detailed in an affidavit acquired by Law&Crime.
The accused reportedly dedicated a significant amount of time detailing the occurrences of that tragic day, while also conveying a profound sense of sorrow.
Outside, the mother was visibly upset, collapsing to the ground and expressing her anguish, as noted by the police in the affidavit.
“Jenkins went limp and dropped to the ground. Jenkins also asked Officer Morris to just kill her. After asking her again what was going on, she said that she accidentally shot her baby. Jenkins stated she pointed the gun but did not mean to shoot him,” the document reads. “Officer Morris asked Jenkins if she was injured as she had blood on her face. She replied that she kissed her baby.”
At one moment, the accused reportedly referred to her son as a “troublesome child” involved with drugs and refusing to attend school.
Inside, Robert Florence, 16, was discovered lying face down on the living room floor, having sustained a single gunshot wound to his head.
Jenkins reportedly informed authorities that her son was meant to attend school on the day in question; however, he chose not to go, opting out instead. After the boy’s two older brothers departed from the apartment, she reached out to her youngest son’s school to inform them of his absence.
Spending the day at home, the teenager reportedly started pestering his mother by repeatedly calling out “Momma” and pleading to borrow her phone — a request she initially denied. He reportedly mentioned that he was heading to speak with a neighbor below regarding some “weed,” according to Jenkins’ statements to the police.
Subsequently, her son requested to use the phone once more, as stated in the affidavit. This time, he expressed a desire to reach out to one of his brothers to request that he ask their father for financial assistance. The mother stated that she agreed to her son’s request. Following the call, her son started to “yank down the curtains and rip up pieces of paper, tossing them onto the floor,” she recounted. Jenkins speculated that her son acted out destructively just to provoke her.
According to the affidavit, Jenkins mentioned that she eventually reclined on the bed and began messaging a friend. Subsequently, her son grabbed a backpack and took out a Ruger Security 9 mm, according to police reports.
In a recent interview after being informed of her rights, the mother expressed her belief that the firearm was unloaded, although she mentioned the possibility of having loaded two rounds approximately two weeks before the tragic incident, according to police reports. Under questioning from detectives, she reportedly claimed she “racked the slide back,” indicating she chambered a round when she took the firearm from her son.
“Jenkins denied intending to shoot Robert but admitted that she may have intended to discharge the handgun with the intent to scare Robert,” the affidavit continues. “Jenkins confirmed that Robert made no threats when holding the handgun, never pointed it in her direction and never said anything, that he was only holding the handgun.”
A teenager sustained a gunshot wound to the forehead.
Jenkins’ son passed away from his injuries on October 11.
According to another section of the charging document, Jenkins is alleged to have invaded her ex-husband’s home, brandishing a handgun in a threatening manner towards him and his 22-year-old girlfriend. This event reportedly took place in March. Authorities reported that they discovered details regarding the supposed assault and burglary during their inquiry into the deadly shooting.
The individual in question remains in custody with a bond set at $1.2 million.