A 21-year-old man was sentenced to nine years in prison in connection with the fatal shooting of his mother on New Year’s Day in Stockton.
Jkwon Williams entered a guilty plea last month to the voluntary manslaughter of his mother, 47-year-old Latoya Scrivens, a death Williams’ family called a “tragic accident.” Williams also admitted to a firearm-use enhancement in the commission of a felony.
The Stockton Police Department said officers responded to the shooting at about 11 a.m. on Jan. 1 in the 2400 block of Gareth Circle.
Scrivens was found at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. She was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.
Detectives said they identified Williams as the suspect following an investigation.
Prosecutor Janet Smith said during last month’s court hearing that law enforcement collected a video showing Williams, his mother, and a third person in a vehicle before the shooting.
Williams was in the backseat and his mother was in the front passenger seat.
Smith said Williams was loading and unloading a firearm. He had expressed having difficulties with the firearm. Williams’ mother and the person in the driver’s seat told the defendant to stop playing with the firearm.
The gun discharged, piercing the passenger seat and striking his mother in the heart. Scrivens got out of the vehicle and said, “You shot me,” before collapsing.
Smith said Williams left the scene to go to the hospital with his mother.
Before San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Xapuri Villapudua handed down Williams’ sentence, she heard several impact statements from the defendant’s loved ones.
‘Your family loves you’
The first person who spoke to the court was Williams’ sibling, Jamiroquai Burden.
She described her brother as caring, supportive and a loving person who consistently showed concern for others.
“I want the court to understand that my brother is more than the situation that brought him here,” Burden said.
As Williams’ sister spoke, some of those who sat in the courtroom gallery cried.
She said she wanted to take a moment to speak to her brother directly from her heart.
“To you, Jkwon, never think that I am not here. I love you and truly miss you, especially the talks we used to have,” she said. “I want you to remember that God has a plan, and even during the hardest moments, keep praying daily. No matter what, stay strong, keep your faith and know that you are loved, missed and supported more than words can express.”
Williams snuck a few glances at his sister before placing his head down. When she addressed him directly, Williams began to cry.
Williams’ cousin, Leah McDonald, said when the family visits their grandmother’s house, it feels as though a piece is missing.
“We walk in the house like, ‘Where Kwon at?’ McDonald said. “We need our peace back in our family … we need our people.”
McDonald read a Bible verse to Williams and reminded him that God was on his side.
Family friend Jont’e Wilson also spoke on behalf of the family.
“I am very, very devastated for the whole family, because I witnessed the double tragedy,” Wilson said. “This family is being torn apart in more than one way.”
She said Williams’ mother loved him and still loves him so much, as she did all of her kids.
“It’s just so sad to see that the other people that love him might lose him because of this,” she said. “Jkwon, I know you … probably feel really bad about what happened, but just know that your family loves you.”
She said she knew what happened was an accident and asked the judge to find a way to not have the family suffer more than they had already.
Williams’ aunt, deacon, former partner, grandfather and friends also spoke on his behalf during the impact statement portion of the hearing.
Many reminded the man to keep his faith, told him he was loved and asked the judge for mercy when sentencing him.
Others pleaded with the judge to keep their loved one close so they could continue visiting and supporting him.
According to the probation officer’s supplemental report, 13 letters were submitted to the court for Villapudua.
Williams’ aunt, Evelyn Scrivens, spoke during the hearing and also submitted a letter.
In her letter, she said, “The loss of your mother was a tragic accident, and I know the weight of that grief is heavy. But I also know your heart, your resilience, and your determination to rise above hardship.”
In a similar sentiment, Williams’ younger sister also referred to their mother’s death as an accident in her letter.
“I want to start off by saying that I know what happened was an accident,” Williams’ younger sister wrote. “My brother never meant to do it. He would never intentionally harm any of his family members.”
She added, “I know our mother, Latoya Scrivens, is looking down on him and she knows he did not mean it. I want Jkwon to know that his siblings are not mad at him.”
Prosecutor emphasizes second chance
Following the impact statements, Smith told the judge that the mercy the family talked about was hope.
She said the hope for Williams is that he will go to prison and become rehabilitated with services that will help him progress when he is released.
She emphasized to Williams, “You will come out.”
Smith added, “I am trying to give him his life back with this sentence.”
She told Williams that if he took advantage of the opportunities given to him, upon his release his whole life would still be ahead of him.
When given the chance to speak, Williams told the court and his supporters present, “To my family, I love y’all very much. I’m sorry for what happened.”
A rare amount of support
When Villapudua addressed the court, she said she has done hundreds of murder sentences during her career, but seeing so many people show up and support a defendant was “extremely rare.”
She reminded the defendant that he did not receive a life sentence and that he does have a date of release. Villapudua said if Williams does well and takes advantage of the services provided, he could be released sooner.
To the relatives sitting in the courtroom gallery, Villapudua told them that, as far as asking for mercy for their loved one, the sentence was an agreed-upon disposition.
“Which means, Mrs. Smith was the one that actually has shown compassion in the offer that was (conveyed) to Mr. Williams,” Villapudua said.
She also told them that she did not have control over where the defendant would be housed for the remainder of his sentence.
Villapudua’s last words to Williams were that the hardest part would be him figuring out how he would forgive himself. She then wished him luck in his future.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: ‘A tragic accident.’ Stockton man sentenced to 9 years in mom’s shooting death
Reporting by Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record / The Record
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