OLIVETTE, Mo. – A son is being charged after he allegedly shot and killed his mother in their Olivette home, mistaking her for an intruder.

Police were called to Huron Drive around 7:20 a.m. Thursday morning for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered 56-year-old Monica Johnson-Nichols, who suffered from a gunshot wound.

Paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but Johnson-Nichols was pronounced dead at the scene.

Goldstein said Jaylen mistook his mother for an intruder.

“It’s just sad,” Will Goldstein, defense attorney, said. “It’s tragic. From what we’ve been able to gather so far, it sounds like Mom was coming through the back door, which was unusual…when no one answered (the son), he went in the back and fired shots and discovered it was his mother.”

25-year-old Jaylen Johnson, the son, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

He is being held on a $100,000 bond at St. Louis County Jail.

The City of Olivette’s spokesperson, Kiana Fleming, says the investigation is ongoing and no further information is to be released at this time.

“It’s just tragic,” Goldstein said. “Jaylen loved his mother, and his mother loved him.”

Jaylen has no criminal history and will appear before a judge next week for a bond hearing, according to Goldstein.

“He’s a mess; I think it’s fair to say he really hasn’t stopped crying since this happened—since he discovered this was his mother,” he said.