Brandon, MS (March 20, 2024) — The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the arrest and charging of a 14-year-old in connection with a tragic domestic incident resulting in the death of her mother in the Farmington Station Subdivision.
According to Sheriff Bryan Bailey, deputies responded to a distress call on Tuesday at approximately 5:07 p.m. reporting a shooting incident on Ashton Way in Brandon.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered the stepfather of the teen who had sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The stepfather informed authorities that upon returning home, he discovered his wife deceased from an apparent gunshot wound inside the residence. His 14-year-old stepdaughter was found armed with a pistol.
The victim disclosed that the suspect had shot at him, causing injury to his shoulder. He managed to disarm the suspect after a physical altercation. The suspect then fled to the backyard, subsequently escaping over a fence.
Additional deputies, accompanied by the MS Highway Patrol’s helicopter, promptly responded to the scene. At approximately 5:35 p.m., Rankin County Deputies located the female suspect nearby and apprehended her without further incident.
Following an assessment of the circumstances and evidence at the scene, law enforcement officials arrested the teenager on charges of murder and attempted murder.
The female juvenile was transported to the Rankin County Juvenile Detention Center, awaiting proceedings scheduled before Rankin County Court Judge Kent McDaniel on Wednesday morning.
Rankin County Investigators continue to process the scene for evidence as the investigation remains ongoing.
The Rankin County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as Ashley Smylie, 40, confirming she was fatally shot at her residence on Ashton Way.
Ashley Smylie was recognized as the mother of the 14-year-old suspect.
According to the Rankin County School District, Smylie served as a math teacher at Northwest Rankin High School, where her daughter was also enrolled as a student.
