Suspect in shooting 4-year-old in head, killing child’s mom commits suicide after police chase

Published 5:19 pm Monday, April 19, 2021

An Alabama man suspected of killing a woman and shooting her 4-year-old son led officers on a chase through two counties before shooting himself to death in a field, police said.

Katlynn M. Jones, 24, was found dead with multiple bullet and knife wounds at her home on Saturday after Alex L. Haynes, 21, of Oxford told his mother he had killed her, according to a statement from the Weaver Police Department. Jones’ son suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

The child was sent to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he was listed in critical condition, and Anniston police soon located Haynes, who fled in a vehicle.

A chase went from Calhoun County through the city of Oxford into Talladega County, where police said Haynes shot himself to death.

A police statement did not give a possible motive for the slaying, but officers identified the victim as Haynes’ girlfriend.