ROCKY TOP, TN — Shawn Tyler Willis, 21, has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for the 2020 shooting death of his mother, Sandy K. Willis. The crime occurred when Willis, then 16 years old, became angry over his mother taking away his cell phone privileges.
The Tragic Incident
On April 20, 2020, deputies from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call at a home on Andys Ridge Road in Rocky Top, Tennessee, about 26 miles northwest of Knoxville.
There, they found Sandy K. Willis shot dead in her bed. She had been killed with her own pistol, shot at close range on the left side of her head while she slept.
The Investigation and Confession
Shawn Willis initially told police that he discovered his mother lying in bed covered in blood and then called his girlfriend. The girlfriend’s father arrived at the scene and, finding Sandy unresponsive, called law enforcement.
During the investigation, Willis gave conflicting accounts of what happened, but in May 2020, he confessed to the crime.
Willis admitted to carefully planning the murder, saying he took his mother’s gun from her nightstand while she slept. After loading the gun downstairs to hide the noise, he returned to her room, walked around the bed, and shot her in the head.
Shawn Willis confessed during a voluntary interview with Detective Don Scuglia, detailing the chilling act. Authorities later discovered that the murder occurred after Willis became upset over the loss of his phone privileges. After arguing with his mother, who had worked a night shift, he shot her twice as she slept.
Legal Proceedings and Sentence
Shawn Willis was originally charged with first-degree murder, but in exchange for his guilty plea, the charge was reduced to second-degree murder. At the time of the murder, he was only 16 years old.
Despite his youth, Willis was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with no possibility for parole. District Attorney General Dave Clark confirmed that Willis will serve 100% of his sentence, rather than the typical possibility of parole after serving 10 years.
The Victim’s Family and Community Impact
The victim’s family was present in court during the sentencing and expressed satisfaction with how the case was resolved. District Attorney Clark acknowledged the immense grief of the family, stating, “This shocking crime demanded justice.”
He added that the restrictions on sentencing for juvenile murderers in Tennessee played a significant role in the final sentence.
Willis’ family will continue to cope with the tragedy, as they face the devastating loss of a mother and loved one. The case serves as a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of unresolved anger and impulsive violence.
