Sleeping mum shot dead by son 'upset' after she took his phone

A 21-year-old Tennessee man is set to spend three decades behind bars after murdering his mother in 2020 because he was "upset" she confiscated his mobile phone.

Shawn Tyler Willis admitted guilt to one count of second-degree murder in Tennessee on Monday after he shot and killed his mother in April 2020 for removing his mobile phone, Law and Crime reported.

Sandy Willis was discovered dead in her bed at home by the Anderson County Sheriff's Department. The mother had been shot with her own weapon at point-blank range on the left side of her head whilst she slept.

Willis admitted guilt and was sentenced to 30 years in state prison.

The horrific crime occurred on April 20, 2020, when Shawn Willis was just 16 years old.

That day, the Anderson County Sheriff's Department discovered Sandy Willis deceased in her own bed on Andys Ridge Road in Rocky Top, which is about about 26 miles from Knoxville.

Law enforcement reported that Sandy had been killed at point-blank range whilst she slept.

On the day that he murdered his mother, Willis had telephoned his girlfriend to tell her that he had discovered his mother dead in her bed, covered in blood, reports the Mirror US.

The girlfriend's father then went to the home to check on Sandy Willis, where he found her unresponsive and called law enforcement, WBIR 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 while 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 conceal 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 mother twice after she returned home from working the late shift. Authorities concluded that Willis decided to kill his mother after she confiscated his mobile phone, leaving him "upset."

As he was 16 years old when he murdered his mother and pleaded guilty, prosecutors reduced the charge from first-degree murder to second-degree murder. In a statement, Clark expressed his relief that the matter 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 were "pleased" with the verdict.