Friends of four Florida children who police say were fatally shot by their mother reacted with tears and stunned silence Tuesday when they found out their classmates were dead.
Student Malcolm Murray, a friend of slain teenager Jaxs Johnson, said the killings were announced over the loudspeaker Tuesday at Space Coast Junior-Senior High School in Cocoa, Florida, where Johnson and two of his siblings attended.
"It's unfair she had to take his life," Murray told CNN affiliate WKMG. "I cried so much I can’t cry anymore."
Authorities said Tonya Thomas, 33, killed her four children - Joel Johnson, 12; Jazlin Johnson, 13; Jaxs Johnson, 15; and Pebbles Johnson, 17 – before fatally shooting herself early Tuesday at their home in Port St. John.
Some of the children went to a neighbor’s home to say that their mother was shooting them, but they returned to their house when Thomas called them back and Thomas shot them again, killing them, Brevard County Sheriff’s Lt. Tod Goodyear said, according to WKMG.
“After we found out who died at our school, no one really wanted to talk,” student Jacob Nelson, who sat next to Jaxs Johnson in history class, told CNN affiliate WESH. “It was just really hard to digest what really happened and how it happened.”
Goodyear said police don’t know of a motive in the shooting. Friends and court documents, however, revealed that Jaxs and his mother were having difficulties.
Jaxs was arrested in April on a domestic violence charge, accused of fighting with his mother when she tried to wake him up for school, WKMG and WESH reported. He was supposed to appear in juvenile court on Tuesday in connection with the case, according to WKMG.
Friends said Jaxs didn’t appear in school on Monday, WKMG reported. Officials said they believe Jaxs was the first child shot on Tuesday morning, according to WESH.
Murray said Jaxs, when they last spoke, said things were getting better at home.
“(Jaxs) said everything was good in the family and they were getting back to the way they used to be, so for this to happen, I broke down, because I didn’t see it coming at all,” Murray told WKMG.
The children's father did not live with the family and was distraught after hearing of the killings, the affiliates reported.
Friends and relatives left a teddy bear, notes, candles and flowers outside the home on Tuesday, CNN affiliate CFN13 reported.
“We want people to know that they weren’t forgotten, no matter what happened today,” neighbor Tony Amador told WKMG.
High school student Corbin Wratchford said Pebbles Johnson was in his physics class.
"She just brought the classroom to life," Wratchford told CFN13. "The teacher loved her. She made everything else better.
“I had a class with Jaxs Johnson, too. He was in my team sports class, and he was also really fun.”
The victims’ schools said they made grief counselors available to students Wednesday.
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Why.....
That is why a family unit with both parents in the home is so important. The stress and pressure of raising children is shared by both parents and there are two parents to stop any desperate and violent behavior as in this case. While this is an extreme case – the major cause of proverty and chld abuse is single parent households.
Actually, studies have shown that poverty and sigle parent homes are two causes of child abuse not the major causes of child abuse. There are several other cause such as, the parents experiences abuse as children,marital discord, manual occupation or unemployment and social isolation. This list goes on and on.
Ed...I am a single parent and there are many of us single parents who do not neglect or kill our children. Yes, it is difficult at times, but I managed to have an incredible smart, sweet, respectful honor student who is a teenager to boot. Not all of us are single parents by choice, there are quite a few widowed parents out here in this world as well and I very much resent your comment on single parents. I work for three employers, but am home when she is out of school and always have been. I know more "family units with both parents in the home" that have major issues with their children than those you seem to think are uncapable to raise a child or children on their own. This woman must have had more "issues" than just "stress and pressure" and I have never thought about raising a child meant stress and pressure. It is a priviledge and a joy, even during the times when it is very difficult. It is a terrible tragedy what happened and my thoughts and prayers go out to this families loved ones. I do not know this woman, nor what her mental state may have been, nor anything else about her. I never walked even a footstep in her shoes and eventhough I cannot fathom what she did, I will not "judge" her or her actions. You should be ashamed to blame this on single parenting!!!
I agree with Chris. I was a struggling single parent and never had any reason to abuse my kids. Just the opposite in fact. Outside pressure was pretty bad though.
Ed, I understand that you are trying to point out how much more pressure it is for a single parent. However, you can't make broad generalizations about something like that. So many parents are not "single" by choice. There are a lot of different reasons someone has to raise their kids alone, and a whole lot of those reasons have nothing to do with being irresponsible. I do agree that a household with two loving parents is the ideal. I also agree that life can get pretty tough at times for a single parent. They carry so much on their shoulders. But I also know a lot of really tremendous single parents who are raising some pretty amazing kids. My Mom became a single parent when our father became abusive. She tried for years to hold us together, but finally had to divorce my father to protect us. In the end, we actually are a stronger family for it. With distance and security, we were able to rebuild a relationship with a man who has an illness. It wasn't the ideal, but for us, it was the right choice. And my Mom is a wonderful mother who raised two girls who never had issues with drugs, violence, breaking the law, anything. We're successful, and are in happy, successful marriages now. So please, don't make assumptions. Strong families come in all shapes and sizes.
Ed you really sound DELIRIOUS as to insinuate that this lady killed her kids because she was a single parent. Neither you nor I know what happened. People are always looking for a rhyme and or reason behind something like this, rather than focusing on praying for the loved ones. I’m in prayer for the family and friends of all 4 people. It’s sad enough that they have to deal with death in this manner. They shouldn’t have to read CRAP like this from YOU! I’m a single mother of 3 gorgeous and smart young ladies (ages 16, 19, & 21). They were all in honors classes and neither one of them were in any trouble. You stated, “While this is an extreme case – the major cause of proverty (CLEARY MISPELLED) and chld (CLEARLY MISPELLED) abuse is single parent households.” As if you know for a fact, that this is the problem….that poverty and abuse is why it happened. YOU MUST BE IGONORANT TO LIFE!!!! God bless you and your EMPTY soul.
Much love and many blessing to the family & friends of the all of the deceased
Ed, While two parent homes may be ideal, they are not always possible NOR do they always produce a positive result in children. If I child for instance has a parent who is an adulterer thereby disrespectful to his mate, an alcoholic, a drug addict, an abuse person to presons and/or animals how would seeing that example be better than being with a loving and committed single parent? I hate blanket statements because they always have a possible negative appearance.
Romney vs. Frankenstein (Obama)
Put simply, better the devil you don't know. Vote Romney.
Donkey..........
I think you need to rethink correlation and causation
I beg to differ. My mother raised my two brothers and myself on her own, and put herself through college after leaving our physically violent and abusive father. It was only after she removed us from a harmful situation that the feeling of being safe returned. Having two parents in a household is not a safe gaurd by any means if the other parent is abusive. This is a horrible tragedy but the lack of a father figure isn't to blame. Every case is different. Every family is unique. And for the record, I turned out awesome.
You are right and I like what you said
I live 5 minutes away from their home. My grandson attends the elementary school block away.
We here in Port St John, don't experience much crime. So this is a terrible shock to the community. A tragedy that will be with us for a long time.
We are, like most of America asking why?
To our dedicated service professionals, police, fire rescue, school officials,local media. Thank you for your compassionate service. The way this was handled should be an example to others.
Why did the neighbor let them go back ????????
Go to WTSP news online and listen to the 911 calls. Shocking. I hope I never have neighbors like that!
Exactly! I would have tackled those kids and dragged them inside. And why in god's name would a kid return after his mother just shot him or her!!!
When I was a kid, the neighbor guy killed his whole family and himself. I don't think it was even in the paper. Very quiet. No explaination ever given. Creepy though.
Matthew 24:12 (NIV)
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
This is the example of the coldness of love that a mother who gave birth to her daughters will kill them at cold blood.
What's the verse for a woman who kills her daughters AND her sons?
Because that's what this mother did.
There could be a million things to factor into any itragic ncidenct in today's society. That being said, raising children is a 24/7 job, very stressful, and most times takes more than just the parents to raise them. Its not a game or a fad to procreate and then think about the decision you've made to have children. And on this note, I fault a numbe of parents who either have children for the wrong reasons (guilt, envy, entrapment) and, consequently, in the longrun, the children are usually the ones who suffer. Further, having one child may be best for some households, i.e., if the parent/parents are not spiritually, mentally or financially capable of raising a child, and when multiple children are factored in...well, needmore be said. The bottom line is this – life happens, and it ain't always pretty. Please put your faith in God, not man, do your best and strive to do better.....
Florida news station WTSP says, "Friends of Thomas said she was working on her master's degree from Strayer University after earning her bachelor's from University of Central Florida."
Something was terribly wrong. I know she had trouble with her kids' behavior. I wonder how much the kids' schools really were aware of and if intervention could have worked. The news station also reports that one of the daughters was at an award's ceremony for being on the Honor Roll. So much potential for this family. I also listened to one of the 911 calls. Apparently, from what it sounded like, the husband and wife neighbors did not want to get involved. You can actually hear the wife "shooing" the kids away to get off her property. The husband was adamant that he would not go outside to check on the kids.
another tragic event when a person with a gun decides its time to use it against their own family.I believe in the right to bear arms but also in a sensible set of laws to define who is mentally stable enough to own them to begin with.
Of course saying this will outrage all the owners who believe the govt has no right to mandate you are sane or that citizens can't have automatic weapons, assault rifles,etc. I think its frightening that the kids escaped then returned to be slaughtered.
Perhaps Mom said if you dont come back I'll kill your brothers. Fear is a powerful tool as well as guilt.
May the kids rest in peace.
Something needs to be addressed about mental status of gun owners-far too many die each day from nuts with guns.
I do not need to hear the stats of people killed in car accidents-the topic is guns!
Pebbles? Naming your child after watching the Flintstones on tv is pretty sad.Give your child a name that wont cause issues later on. This is the first time I have ever heard anyone naming their kid Pebbles! I would probably have a few issues with my parents if they named me that also.
Its really sad all the way around-this lady was working on her masters degree! I struggled on my AFA in Graphic Design-but advancing to your masters takes a lot out of you-and is quite stressful. Raising 4 teens at the same time would be nightmare if one was constantly causing problems. We will never know.
'A single parent'– IGONORANT, MISPELLED=CLEARLY MISSPELLED
Well that is 4 less future welfare recipients and criminals.
Al Bundy, Lord have mercy!! This one statement cut me to the core of my being. I am so saddened by your comment. Do you think they were future welfare recipients because they were black? What an awful thing to say. Wow!
Ed, I'd love to live in your simple, special world. I would be President.
why does this sort of thing always happen in Florida?
I can not believe what ED said and the dude about wel fare you should all be ashamed of your selfs. I am widow and I could never hurt my kids. You say single parent families are like that well look at Andrea Yates she was married and killed all five of her kids