A Haywood County judge has ordered 44-year-old Jermis Jones to spend the rest of his life in prison, plus 34 extra years, for the killing of Perish Tyus. Prosecutors say Tyus was shot to death on Dec. 18, 2022, just after she dropped off the couple’s 4-year-old son at a relative’s home, a crime that stunned Brownsville and left neighbors asking how it could happen.
Verdict and charges
A Haywood County jury found Jones guilty in November 2025 of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and multiple firearm and tampering counts, according to jury conviction coverage. Prosecutors told jurors the evidence showed Jones deliberately planned and carried out the attack on Tyus.
What happened that day
Local reporting said that on the morning of Dec. 18, 2022, Tyus was discovered gravely wounded in her car shortly after dropping off her son at a paternal relative’s house. Witnesses told police the suspected shooter was her ex-boyfriend. The funeral home's online notice and public records confirm Tyus’s death and the family’s decision to hold services in Brownsville. Brownsville Radio and Currie's Funeral Home both documented those details.
Arrest and past convictions
Investigators say Jones fled after the shooting, got rid of the gun, and later tried to hide in a carport storage closet before officers arrested him. Court filings and trial reporting also say he made threats after being taken into custody. Authorities noted that Jones had three prior drug felony convictions, which supported additional counts accusing him of being a felon in possession of a firearm. WBBJ detailed those points in its coverage of the case.
Sentence and official response
According to WREG, the judge imposed a mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder and added 34 more years on the remaining counts, to be served consecutively. In practical terms, that means Jones is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars. District Attorney General Frederick H. Agee praised the jury’s work and the investigation while extending condolences to Tyus’s loved ones.
Prosecutor's statement
“Our hearts again go out to Ms. Tyus’s family,” Agee said in a statement, describing the killing as “a senseless, violent act by an ex-domestic partner,” as reported by WREG. He publicly thanked Brownsville police and Haywood County investigators for pushing the case from the crime scene to a conviction.
Aftermath
Tyus, a mother of four, was remembered by family and friends as a devoted parent, and her killing sparked public grief and demands for accountability across tight-knit Haywood County. The case was prosecuted by Agee and Assistant District Attorney Nina Seiler. Local officials have said they will keep pressing to remove violent offenders from the community, a commitment underscored in the trial and sentencing coverage by WBBJ.
