COLUMBUS, OH – Laquandra Williams, 45, received a life sentence for the murder of her 21-year-old son Jahaad Hughes. She will have the possibility of parole after she spends 18 years incarcerated. The sentence was handed down by the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas on Monday, following Williams’ plea of guilty to charges of murder and assault.
The case was triggered by a tragic escalation of events on February 19, 2024, in a residential neighborhood near Tussing Elementary School in east Columbus. Witnesses present at the scene shared with detectives that Jahaad was attacked by his mother, who had armed herself with a knife.
According to court records, Jahaad wrestled the knife away from his mother, prompting her to threaten him and head to their car parked outside, where witnesses stated she kept her firearm.
After successfully locking Williams out of the house, Hughes decided to vacate the premises. As he was exiting the building, Williams confronted him and fired her gun at close range.
Once the officers arrived at the location, they found Hughes unresponsive on the ground. Williams approached the officers and confessed to shooting her son, the court records report.