8-year-old heroically protects younger siblings after seeing carjacker killed his mother

After witnessing how a man killed his mother while trying to steal her car, an 8-year-old boy protected his two younger siblings until police arrived.

According to Saint Louis Today, 18-year-old Mark Haywood was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and two counts of armed criminal action after he tried to steal Porsha Owens' car.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch revealed that Haywood, who lived a few blocks from where the incident took place, liked the white Dodge Charger he had spotted outside Owens’ home, so he waited there to steal it.

The single mother of three’s intention was to take her children, ages 3 to 8, to a summer daycare program. When she approached her vehicle, Haywood came up from behind and demanded her car keys and money.

Saint Louis Today added that Owens turned around and Haywood shot his gun twice, hitting the woman only once. The man took Owens’ money and tried to start the car, but ultimately ran off because he couldn’t do it.

After Owens was shot, she managed to walk to a neighbor’s house to ask for help. Once she did that, she collapsed.

The woman’s 8-year-old son, who was the only witness, kept his siblings together and protected them while the ambulance and the police arrived.

Keon King, the victim’s cousin, told local TV station WFMY that, while the family was waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Owens told the boy: “I’m sorry. I think I’m about to die.” She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Saint Louis Today reported that Owens, who worked as a school safety officer in the Riverview Gardens School District, carried a weapon in a holster at her hip when the incident took place.

When officers gathered enough information about the attempted carjacking and arrested Haywood in his home, some of Owens’ belongings were found, including her gun.

McCulloch finally revealed that Haywood admitted the crimes when he was caught. Bail was set at $1 million, cash-only.