Adults often wonder what kids are thinking when they do horrible things. The story of 17-year-old Anthony Tyrone Terrell, convicted of killing his own family, reveals a tragic thought process that came out in open court last Friday.
Terrell had an argument with his mother about a girl. Rather than ending with a slammed door, Terrell killed his mother and two younger sisters. The AJC published his statement about what went on in his head:
“I never planned what happened that day,” Terrell told Superior Court Judge Debra Turner. After shooting his mother, he shot his 11 year-old half sister, who witnessed the shooting. He then went upstairs and shot his 4-year-old half sister. He told investigators that he killed her because he didn’t want her to have to grow up without a mother. He then planned to commit suicide, but could not go through with it.
Terrell will have a lot of time to think about this while serving two life sentences in prison. Defense attorney Lyle Porter believes Terrell lost control of his emotions and that his actions after shooting his mother came from a feeling of hopelessness.