Mississippi woman says husband warned ‘Give me a reason’ before shooting her as son watched
By Nicholas Brooks
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JACKSON, Mississippi (WAPT) — A Jackson woman said she was hunted, beaten and shot all in front of her 7-year-old son.
Crystal Emery, a mother and amputee with one arm, said the violence escalated suddenly over the weekend when her husband came home intoxicated.
“As I’m standing directly in front of him, asking him what you’re on, he was like, ‘All I need you to do is give me a reason. Give me a reason,'” said Emery.
Emery said she took that statement as a warning sign and made a crucial decision.
“So, my mind was like, ‘Go get your son and just get in your car and go,'” said Emery.
But she said she never made it safely to her car.
“Then he was like, ‘You’re not going anywhere.’ As I’m going this way, he runs off the porch, knocks me to the ground, punching me all over my face and head,” Emery said.
Emery said she was beaten while her 7-year-old son watched in horror.
“My son was like, ‘Duke, please stop hitting my mom. Don’t do my mama like that,'” said Emery.
She said her husband had a gun and took her phone, preventing her from calling for help. Emery and her son finally got into the car, hoping to escape.
But that’s when she said the gunfire began.
16 WAPT News counted four bullet holes that went through her windshield, all while she and her son were inside. The damage is still visible — bullet holes piercing the windshield and even the driver’s seat where Emery was sitting.
Emery was shot in the shoulder.
“He was like, ‘Oh, so now I have to justify why I shot you,'” said Emery.
Her story highlights how quickly domestic violence can escalate. This past weekend in Brandon, a woman was killed by her husband, who then died by suicide. Last year in Yazoo City, a teacher was killed by her ex-partner, who also died by suicide. Both tragic domestic violence cases.
Despite the severity of the incident, 41-year-old Ackland Dukes is currently charged with aggravated domestic violence. Emery said she believes the case should be considered attempted murder.
Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones said that additional charges have been added to the case, including aggravated assault on a child and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
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