ETOWAH COUNTY, Alabama – A tragic incident in Etowah County resulted in the death of a 9-year-old boy and his 45-year-old mother due to a shooting on Tuesday night, as confirmed by the coroner. The Etowah County Sheriff’s deputies were back at the home on Glen Gap Road in the Tabor-Highland Community on Wednesday afternoon to assist animal control in collecting the pets inside the house, which is now considered a crime scene.
Sheriff Jonathon Horton expressed his dismay, calling the shooting a senseless and unnecessary act of aggression with permanent consequences. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Tuesday when someone inside the home called 911 reporting the shooting of a woman and her young son. According to Sheriff Horton, the 45-year-old woman was in control of the home, with the 9-year-old being her son, and the suspected shooter also being her son.
This tragedy has deeply affected the community, with a neighbor tearfully sharing that the young boy was a sweet kid who always waved and spoke with him. Deputies from the drug enforcement unit were the first to arrive at the scene and performed life-saving measures on the young boy before medics arrived, but unfortunately, he was pronounced deceased.
An investigation is ongoing, and a 21-year-old woman was taken into custody for questioning along with the woman’s 24-year-old son. Sheriff Horton stated that the incident is isolated, and there is no threat to the community. In the midst of this tragic incident, Sheriff Horton offered heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the victims, emphasizing the impact such a loss has on emergency first responders.
The sheriff thanked various organizations for their assistance, such as the Lookout Mountain and Highland Fire Departments, Advantage Ambulance Service, Jacksonville State Center for Applied Forensic, and Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of the mother and son in this devastating event.