A Kansas woman, Tesha Florence, 46, also known as Tesha Jenkins, is currently in custody after confessing to the fatal shooting of her son. Florence is facing charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated burglary, as per the records of Sedgwick County Jail. She was arrested earlier this month, during which she reportedly confessed to the shooting, expressing deep remorse and distress.
The incident occurred on the morning of October 9, when law enforcement responded to a shooting at Florence’s apartment. According to the affidavit, Florence spent a significant amount of time detailing the events of that tragic day, showing signs of extreme emotional distress. She reportedly fell to the ground, rolled around, and even asked an officer to end her life, stating that she had accidentally shot her son.
Florence described her son, Robert Florence, 16, as a troubled teenager involved in drug use and frequently skipping school. On the day of the incident, Robert was supposed to be in school but chose not to go. After his two older brothers left the apartment, Florence called Robert’s school to inform them of his absence.
According to Florence, Robert spent the day at home, repeatedly asking to use her phone and announcing plans to buy marijuana from a neighbor. Later, he asked to use the phone again to request money from their father through one of his brothers. After the call, Robert began to act destructively, pulling down curtains and tearing up paper, actions Florence believed were intended to upset her.
The affidavit details that Florence was lying on her bed, texting a friend, when Robert removed a Ruger Security 9 mm handgun from a backpack. Florence grabbed the gun and backpack from Robert, pointed the gun at him, and asked if he wanted to die. She stated that the gun “went off” and she saw Robert fall forward, realizing then that she had shot him.
During her interview, Florence claimed she thought the gun was empty, although she remembered possibly loading two rounds into it two weeks before the incident. She denied intending to shoot Robert, but admitted she may have intended to scare him by discharging the gun. She confirmed that Robert made no threats when holding the gun and never pointed it at her.
Robert was shot in the forehead and succumbed to his injuries two days later, on October 11. In a separate part of the charging document, Florence is also accused of forcing her way into her ex-husband’s residence in March, where she allegedly pointed her gun at him and his 22-year-old girlfriend. This incident came to light during the investigation of the fatal shooting. Florence is currently being held on a $1.2 million bond.