A strong family bond will take a person through even the most challenging times in their life. If you can call upon your family for help when you need it, you’re a very lucky person. Some people will do just about anything for their family, even if it’s against the law. In 2022, Isiah M. Roberts was just 19 years old when his mother and sister called on him for help. While attempting to defend their honor, Roberts accidentally shot and killed 9-year-old Sequoya Bacon-Jones.
The situation reportedly escalated from a social media disagreement.
The deadly shooting occurred on March 25, 2022, at the Kingsbury Square apartments in Trenton, New Jersey, according to court documents obtained by NJ.com. A physical altercation between Roberts’ sister and another woman occurred in the apartment’s courtyard. It reportedly stemmed from a Facebook argument and escalated. A man allegedly got involved in the fight, and that’s when Roberts’ family called upon him for help.
The teenager apparently did as his mother asked.
Roberts’ mother and sister allegedly called and texted him dozens of times that day until he finally responded. They asked him to “get down to Kingsbury” to deal with the “family nemesis,” per NJ.com. The teenager did as his family asked and reportedly went into an apartment to retrieve a 9-mm handgun with 13 bullets. That’s when life changed for everyone involved.
Sequoya ran for cover.
According to court documents, the innocent 9-year-old girl ran for cover with her brother as shots rang out but ultimately died from a gunshot wound. Police arrested Roberts a short time later, and he’s remained behind bars since. Now 23 years old, Roberts pleaded guilty April 16, 2026, to killing Sequoya as part of a plea agreement. He’ll spend the next 15 to 18 years in prison.
Roberts’ sentence infuriated Sequoya’s family.
Shae Jones, Sequoya’s mother, posted her frustration in a brutally honest Facebook post. Jones claimed Roberts’ family wailed in court, defending the man who pleaded guilty to killing her child.
“I have to carry around her ashes I have to cry and remember what the f— you did what all y’all did and he only get 18 years?? Yep I’m mad,” she wrote. “Justice was not served but I know God got the last say so I’mma let him handle it from here he’s been handling it but now I’mma just fall back all the way back and I’mma just let him do what he was already doing.. which was taking care of it.. 18 f—-g years.”
Commenters offered Jones encouragement and prayers.
“Hope you made a victim impact statement praying for your strength to endure this pain the remainder of the life God have left for you so sorry friend,” one comment reads.
How does taking a child’s life equate to what seems like just a few years in prison? Even if Roberts spends his entire sentence behind bars, that’s nothing in comparison to a mother who’ll live the rest of her life without her beloved child due to gun violence. It’s just not fair.
