Flowood, Mississippi – A tragic incident unfolded in Rankin County as a teenager stands accused of fatally shooting her mother and injuring her stepfather. The victim, 40-year-old Ashley Smylie, was discovered dead in her home in Brandon by her husband on Tuesday evening.
Smylie, a math teacher at Northwest Rankin Middle School, was well-known in the community. The devastating turn of events shocked many, as her own daughter, a student at the school, now faces serious charges in connection to her mother’s death.
Upon arrival at the scene, Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey encountered the wounded stepfather who had been shot in the shoulder. He recounted finding Smylie deceased and his stepdaughter armed with a pistol in their home.
Following a physical altercation, the stepfather managed to disarm the teenager before she fled the scene. A search operation was swiftly launched, involving Rankin County deputies and a helicopter from the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The teenager was apprehended within half an hour of the incident and taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities arrested the teen for murder and attempted murder, based on the evidence gathered at the scene. She was subsequently transported to the Rankin County Juvenile Detention Center in Brandon and is expected to appear in court the following morning. The investigation into the tragic events continues as the community grapples with the loss of a beloved teacher and the serious charges facing her daughter.