74yo Grandma Sandra Layne Charged With Murder In 17yo Grandson's Shooting Death

[Whisper]

Sandra Layne

This happened the other night but I have been waiting for more info on it to come out
West Bloomfield grandmother to be charged in grandson's shooting death
17-year-old Jonathan Hoffman shot to death Friday at home in West Bloomfield Township
May 21 2012

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -
Monday was the first day back to class at alternative school Farmington Central High School after one of it’s students was shot to death late Friday afternoon.
Classmates of 17-year-old Jonathon Hoffman still can’t believe the news that Hoffman was killed, allegedly at the hands of his own grandmother.
Senior Anwar Davis says Hoffman was a close friend of his. Davis says he spoke to Hoffman on the phone Friday and learned of his death when a family member alerted him to turn the news on T-V. Davis called Hoffman a straight A student and a creative kid.
Counselors were on hand at Farmington Central Monday to speak with students about the loss of their friend. Davis says he expects those counselors to be busy as students “get things off their chests.” Davis said.
Background info
The teen was living with his grandparents so he could stay in Farmington schools while his divorced parents settled in Arizona, said his father, Michael Hoffman, of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Jerome Sabbota, a lawyer for the grandmother, said Jonathan Hoffman had legal problems over drugs and had conflicts with his grandmother.

Sabbota said his client fired her new .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun because she felt she had no choice.
"This is a 74-year-old . lady who just bought a gun. It's not like she was a pro. I don't think she was in control of her emotions. She was afraid. She's not a big, strong woman," Sabbota said.

Regardless of what difficulties the teen gave his grandmother, there was no reason for her to shoot him, his father said.

"I'm not saying he was aggressive, but if he was, I don't understand how being aggressive but unarmed would justify her using deadly force," Michael Hoffman said.

The night before he died, Jonathan Hoffman saw the Sasha Baron Cohen movie "The Dictator" with friends, but they barely watched because they were cracking up and having a good time, the friends said.
"He was one of the funniest kids I know," said Adam Makhoul, 17, of Birmingham. "He was never violent. He always was a giving person."
[...]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/n...z/-/index.html

Jonathon Hoffman

West Bloomfield grandmother charged with open murder in grandson's shooting death

Sandra Layne

No bond set for 74-year-old grandmother in death of 17-year-old Jonathon Hoffman
May 21 2012

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -
Sandra Layne, 74, has been charged with open murder for the shooting death of her 17-year-old grandson, Jonathon Hoffman.
[...]
No bond was set for Layne after she was arraigned on Monday. She is held at the Oakland County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday for a preliminary examination.
[...]
Jerome Sabbota, a lawyer for the grandmother, said Jonathan Hoffman had legal problems over drugs and had conflicts with his grandmother.
Sabbota said his client fired her new .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun because she felt she had no choice.
"This is a 74-year-old lady who just bought a gun. It's not like she was a pro. I don't think she was in control of her emotions. She was afraid. She's not a big, strong woman," Sabbota said.
Regardless of what difficulties the teen gave his grandmother, there was no reason for her to shoot him, his father said.
"I'm not saying he was aggressive, but if he was, I don't understand how being aggressive but unarmed would justify her using deadly force," Michael Hoffman said.
[...]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/n...z/-/index.html

[Chinchillazilla]

Sabbota said his client fired her new .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun because she felt she had no choice.
"This is a 74-year-old . lady who just bought a gun. It's not like she was a pro. I don't think she was in control of her emotions. She was afraid. She's not a big, strong woman," Sabbota said.

To me, this makes it sound like she went out and bought a gun with the idea of shooting her grandson in her head.

[Whisper]

To me, this makes it sound like she went out and bought a gun with the idea of shooting her grandson in her head.

actually she kinda did,
not to shoot and kill him
its not on their site updated yet but she admits she bought the gun after Tucker Cipriano beat his dad to death with a baseball bat,,,this is that thread

http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/s...940#post613940

[Whisper]

Why did she do it? Grandmother, 74, 'shoots teenage grandson dead' on lawn of her upmarket home in killing that has left police baffled

'All we know for sure is a domestic situation obviously got out of hand and we have a deceased subject as a result,' said Lt. Tim Diamond with the West Bloomfield Police Department.
The grandmother's attorney claimed that Hoffman was on drugs and that his client was not responsible for her actions, saying: 'She didn’t have a choice - she was afraid.'
Jerome Sabbota said the teenager had been in trouble for using drugs, and added: 'She’s taking care of somebody else’s child... and he was on probation for drug issues.'

He continued: 'I don’t think she was in control of her emotions. She was afraid. She’s not a big, strong woman.'
But Jonathan's father, the suspect's former son-in-law, was sceptical of her explanation, saying: 'I don’t have the intimate details of his involvement with drugs.
'I just don’t see how that fact, if it is a fact, would have any justification for what happened.'
Officers were called to the residence, which the 17-year-old shared with his grandparents, at about 5.30pm after neighbours heard gunshots, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The grandmother was taken into custody but not immediately questioned. Because of her age and the circumstances of the shooting, the woman is being guarded at a local hospital.
Hoffman, a senior at Farmington Central High School had been out with friends at the movies the night before he was shot according to Freep
'He was one of the funniest kids I know,' said Adam Makhoul, 17, of Birmingham, one of the friends who saw The Dictator with Hoffman the night before he died.

'He was never violent. He always was a giving person.'
And police have revealed that Hoffman had been living with both his grandparents at Maple Place Villas when the fatal shooting occurred.

'He’s a kid that didn’t deserve to die,' said Max Dashevsky, 17, of West Bloomfield, who knew Hoffman since ninth grade.

'I woke up this morning thinking I was going to see this kid, that it was just a dream.'
The boy had called 911 about 40 minutes before he was pronounced dead, Lt. Diamond said.
Officers seized a handgun that they believed was used in the slaying before escorting the old woman from the property.
'She’s a really nice woman. I hope the best for her,' neighbor, Elizabeth Ardisana, 85, told the newspaper.
The teen's grandfather was not present when the shooting took place.

The boy's parents, who are divorced, have moved to Arizona with his 15-year-old daughter, but Jonathan stayed in Michigan to complete his education.
Officers responded to similar domestic violence involving the teen and his grandmother in March, at the same address.
Lt. Diamond said the March incident was 'a verbal argument'.

'Officers resolved it. It was your typical teenager-parent argument,' he said.
The March police report did not specify whether the grandmother or the teenager instigated the dispute, the newspaper said.
Lt. Diamond said investigators expected to get a search warrant this weekend so they could 'go over this residence with a fine-tooth comb' for evidence.

The elderly woman will be brought to West Bloomfield police station for questioning when she is able to leave hospital. She will be held in the lockup.

Prosecutors will review the case next week for possible criminal charges.
[...]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1vYqXDOFf

Killed: Jonathan Hoffman, 17, allegedly died of multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by his grandmother on Friday, according to medical examiners

[AngelFire]

I would love to know the reason behind him calling 911, 40 minutes prior to being shot. So sad.

[Whisper]

I would love to know the reason behind him calling 911, 40 minutes prior to being shot. So sad.

he called to tell them he had been shot
died shortly afterwards

[AngelFire]

he called to tell them he had been shot
died shortly afterwards

Crazy old bitch

[Whisper]

Crazy old bitch

yep and they went with open murder so that if they decide in few days to go with 1rst degree then its LWOP
But at 74 I think anything will be LWOP
they want to check all evidence before deciding which one to charge her with

[newstarshipsmell]

Wonder what granpaw's take on all this is. Will he tard-defend?

[Dakota Valkyrie]

During Layne's arraignment Monday, a police detective testified that Hoffman frantically told a 911 dispatcher he had been shot in the chest by his grandmother and that he was going to die.

By the time officers arrived at the property, at least four more shots from a .40-caliber handgun had been pumped into the high school senior.

A West Bloomfield Township detective told a judge that eight entry and exit wounds were found in Hoffman's body and two bullets were in his body after the shooting.

"At approximately the three-minute mark of the 911 call, the subject screamed and exclaimed that he had just been shot again," Detective Brad Boulet said, according to The Detroit News. "Responding officers heard several gunshots inside the house."

Layne stood mute in court when the charge was read, and a not guilty plea was entered on her behalf.
[...]

Layne's attorneys have said there were problems at the condo, and Layne was afraid of her grandson. One of her attorneys, Mitchell Ribitwer, told reporters Monday that drugs and drug paraphernalia apparently belonging to the teen were found at the condo after Hoffman was killed.
[...]

Wearing an orange jumpsuit in court, Layne smiled and nodded to her husband and other family members.

Ribitwer said Layne had lived in the West Bloomfield area for 30 years. His requests for a reasonable bond and electronic tether monitor for Layne were denied. A pre-examination conference for Layne was set for Thursday morning.

Prosecutors had no comment after the hearing. Layne's husband and other relatives attended the hearing but also didn't comment.

Police had responded in March to a domestic disturbance at Layne's home.

"I spoke to the officer who responded, and he indicated this young man was totally out of control in the street," Ribitwer told reporters Monday. "He was derogatory to his grandmother. He was yelling and shouting and almost got into it with the police."

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...ght-times?lite

[Aena]

Ok, so she was scared of him. I can see her shooting him once, wounding him, that would have taken the steam out of him and also made him less of a threat. THEN to shoot him SEVEN more times? While he is on the phone with 911? That is what will get her charged and convicted, she had taken out the threat, there was no reason to keep shooting. She could claim the first shot was justified, the rest I just don't understand, and can't explain away those ones, she purposely shot and killed him after he was down.

[Whisper]

Ok, so she was scared of him. I can see her shooting him once, wounding him, that would have taken the steam out of him and also made him less of a threat. THEN to shoot him SEVEN more times? While he is on the phone with 911? That is what will get her charged and convicted, she had taken out the threat, there was no reason to keep shooting. She could claim the first shot was justified, the rest I just don't understand, and can't explain away those ones, she purposely shot and killed him after he was down.

Grandmother charged with murder of grandson, feared grandson was using synthetic pot

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich.(WXYZ) - The grandmother accused of shooting and killing her grandson last Friday feared her grandson was using synthetic pot and that he would kill her in a violent rage.

Sources tell Action News 74-year-old Sandra Layne saw the story of the Cipriano family and feared she would meet the same fate.

Bob Cipriano was murdered and his teenaged son and wife were beaten during a baseball bat attack inside their Farmington Hills home last month. The killings were allegedly carried out by their son and friend who were said to have been on synthetic pot during the attack.

Monday afternoon at Sandra Layne’s arraignment, she was charged with open murder at 48th District Court in Bloomfield Township. In open murder trials, a jury decides whether a defendant is guilty of first or second degree murder.

The petite mother of five and grandmother of nine kids sat quietly as she also learned she has a firearms charge against her.

No bond was set.

Several neighbors called police after they heard the gunshots. Even 17-year-old Jonathan Hoffman called 911 for help after police said that his grandmother shot him multiple times. The teenager died at Botsford Hospital.

One of Layne's attorney's said Hoffman tested positive for synthetic marijuana.

“All we know for sure is a domestic situation obviously got out of hand and we have a deceased subject as a result,” said Lt. Tim Diamond with the West Bloomfield Police Department. Police are not saying how the argument started.

In court, it was revealed that Hoffman was shot eight times.

The shooting happened at the Maple Place Villas condo complex in West Bloomfield, a gated community where the grandparents live.

A detective took the stand saying when officers arrived, she commented that she had just murdered her grandson.

When Hoffman's friends heard about his death they ran to the police department in utter disbelief. Even the grandmother's attorney has not dealt with this scenario before.

“I have never seen a grandmother kill a grandson,” said attorney Jerome Sabbota. Family members retained Sabbota who spoke with the grandmother Saturday morning for a few hours.

“She’s fragile, she’s scared, and she’s upset. She feels tremendous sorrow,” said Sabbota.

The grandfather was not home at the time of the shooting. Police took the grandmother to the hospital to be checked out for medical conditions and the hospital released her to police this morning where she is still in custody.

Police recovered a handgun used in the shooting but will not say who it belongs to.
[...]

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...#ixzz1vcUvJLw5

they will go with terrified grandma defense but as you said one shot to stop him shouldve been enough unless he was in a rage from whatever is in that pot I have no clue whats in it chemical wise
other wise they will go with the bat shit crazy grandma defense

[Abroad]

During Layne's arraignment Monday, a police detective testified that Hoffman frantically told a 911 dispatcher he had been shot in the chest by his grandmother and that he was going to die.

By the time officers arrived at the property, at least four more shots from a .40-caliber handgun had been pumped into the high school senior.

A West Bloomfield Township detective told a judge that eight entry and exit wounds were found in Hoffman's body and two bullets were in his body after the shooting.

"At approximately the three-minute mark of the 911 call, the subject screamed and exclaimed that he had just been shot again," Detective Brad Boulet said, according to The Detroit News. "Responding officers heard several gunshots inside the house."

She was not panicking. She shot him, then waited three minutes and shot him some more? And by then she would have been aware that help (LE and ambulance) was on the way, too. DId she think she would be better off in court if he could not give his side of the story?

[Chinchillazilla]

She's going to try to play the "but I'm a fragile, confused, terrified old woman" defense? If she was that fragile, confused, and terrified, she would have stopped at one shot (maybe two if she had a death grip on the trigger).

[Whisper]

Grandma accused of murder bought gun in April after incident with grandson in March

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) - The 7 Action News Investigators are learning new details that led up to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jonathon Hoffman.
[...]
A number of incidents appear to have led up to the fatal shooting at the Maple Place Villas condo complex in West Bloomfield.

The first came in March when Layne called police saying Hoffman was out of control. Sources say when police arrived on the scene they found him on the front lawn making nasty comments about his mother and yelling at his grandmother.

Officers were able to calm the situation down. Hoffman's mother was not present at the time.

Then, in April, Hoffman was placed on probation for using marijuana. At that time it was determined that by the court that Hoffman was a threat to one or more people. The court order does not specify who those people were.

As a condition of his probation, Hoffman was ordered to undergo outpatient treatment, avoid drugs and alcohol and undergo random drug and alcohol testing.

Later on in April, Layne purchased a Glock pistol at the Target Gun Shop in Orchard Lake. At the time she also underwent training on how to use the gun.

Finally, on the day of the shooting, Hoffman was found to have violated his probation after testing positive for K2. This apparently led to an argument between Hoffman and his grandmother.

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...#ixzz1vdQVdZ5v

No matter what the outcome grandmas lost her family
They havent updated the news yet but family at funeral make no mistake about it she didnt need to shoot and shes making it up to seem worse then it is
I dont know I wasnt there this is family talking

[Whisper]

[...]
According to the documents, he was caught with marijuana on St. Patrick’s Day of this year and turned himself into police.

“He had used mushrooms. He had never used them before, he freaked out. He called police himself for help,” said Loren Dickstein, Hoffman’s former defense attorney. “Even the report indicates that when the officer arrived Jonathan jumped into his arms and hugged him.”

Hoffman was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Dickstein said his client pleaded guilty but went into a program, adhering to strict conditions. If

he stayed clean for a year, his record would be wiped clean, Dickstein said.

Hoffman was just weeks away from graduating from Farmington Central High School, an alternative education school.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/n...r/-/index.html

[Whisper]

I wasnt there and cant pass judgement on something I know nothing about
But the thought of a grandma killing her grandson makes me sick to my stomach
Have to wait and see what comes out down the road

[LadyCygnet]

If he was such a hazard, why didn't she admit him to a rehab center or mental health facility?

And where was the rest of the family during all of this? I know his parents had moved out of state and he was staying with his grandparents to finish out the school year, but what about the grandfather and other relatives in the area?

[TheMorningStar]

I foresee a Palsy Trigger Finger defense.

[Whisper]

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) - The 7 Action News Investigators are learning new details that led up to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jonathon Hoffman.

[...]
A new question has also been raised in the case as a police source is telling 7 Action News that Layne sent her husband to walk the dog shortly before the fatal shooting.
[..]
As a condition of his probation, Hoffman was ordered to undergo outpatient treatment, avoid drugs and alcohol and undergo random drug and alcohol testing.
Later on in April, Layne purchased a Glock pistol at the Target Gun Shop in Orchard Lake. At the time she also underwent training on how to use the gun.
Finally, on the day of the shooting, Hoffman was found to have violated his probation after testing positive for K2. This apparently led to an argument between Hoffman and his grandmother.

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...#ixzz1vixWIahU

[LadyCygnet]

Uh huh. This is starting to look more and more like premeditated murder. What was wrong--did she think that a dead grandchild was better than a living grandchild with a drug problem?

[Whisper]

Uh huh. This is starting to look more and more like premeditated murder. What was wrong--did she think that a dead grandchild was better than a living grandchild with a drug problem?

yep I thought the same thing,have to wait and see i guess

[Whisper]

Slain West Bloomfield Township teen's father says he was good kid who respected grandparents

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -
The father of a teen who was shot to death at his grandparents' West Bloomfield home on Friday says the teen was a good kid who respected his grandparents.
[..]
Now, Hoffman's father is speaking out.

"I'm devastated, as is my family," he said. "We're all in a complete state of shock. We can't make sense of this senseless act."

Hoffman said his son was "brilliant, energetic, creative young boy who had so much potential."

Police removed several items from the home including Layne's anti-anxiety medication and empty prescription bottles, ammunition, the Glock 17 handgun, marijuana residue in Jonathan's room along with scales, packaging materials, an Apple iPod and computer and the teen's black leather wallet.

Police were working to interview Layne's 84-year-old husband. Investigators want to know if the woman told her husband to leave the home before the shooting. He was not at the home when the shooting happened but he was nearby.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/n...t/-/index.html

[Whisper]

West Bloomfield Township grandmother accused of killing grandson faces judge and family

Bloomfield Hills-WXYZ) - The West Bloomfield Township grandmother charged with shooting and killing her grandson appeared in 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills Thursday morning for a preliminary hearing.

Sandra Layne faced not only a judge, but her family. They refused to talk about their feelings about her actions with media, but waved at her and mouthed apparent words of support as she entered the courtroom.

Some could be heard saying, “Poor Sandra,” as the 74-year-old was lead into the courtroom in handcuffs.

“Her family has been standing behind her since the beginning,” said her defense attorney Jerome Sabbota.

Sabbota says details of what happened before the shooting will be revealed in court, but that his client cared for her grandson.
[...]
During the hearing Attorney Sabbota waived his client’s right to a preliminary exam within 14 days. The preliminary exam is when investigators present evidence collected to the court and it is decided whether there is enough for a trial. He said he would like more time to review the evidence.

The judge scheduled the preliminary exam for July 2 nd.

The prosecution asked the judge to call for a competency exam, to determine whether Layne is psychologically fit for trial. The judge responded by saying that this is something the defense usually asks for, not the prosecution. Layne’s defense attorney said it was unnecessary because his client is competent. The judge asked both sides to submit motions for and against this.

The judge refused to offer bond. This means Layne will remain in jail at least until the preliminary exam in July

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/home/west-bl...#ixzz1voO1Cd4P

[Whisper]

Hoffman, Cipriano connected through 'K2 crew' in Oakland County

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -
Jonathan Hoffman and Tucker Cipriano first met when they were both students at North Farmington High School.

Last year, Hoffman transferred to the alternative high school in Farmington and Cipriano dropped out of school all together. However, both remained connected through an underground group called the K2 Crew.
The group was made up of teens who often partied at a home near the alternative school. Hoffman's father said the teens were far from best buds.

K2 has community concerned:

The spice drug K2 made headlines in Metro Detroit after the attack on the Cipriano family at their Farmington Hills home. Police said Tucker Cipriano was high on K2 and Hoffman recently tested positive for the drug.

The new interest in K2 has parents and school leaders concerned. The Farmington schools district is working to come up with a plan to educate parents and students about the potential dangers of K2.
[,,,]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/n...i/-/index.html

[Whisper]

No matter what comes out I cant get past he was already shot 1x and on the phone to 911 and she shot him another 7 times
thats no self defence thats an execution

[CbabyRKO]

Blaming the Cipriano murders on K2 is retarded. That kid killed his family coz he is a selfish twit faced punk.
This lady executed her grandson becoz she is a crazy bitch. I'm sorry but her look into her eyes she doesnt exactly look all there mentally. 8 times she shot this boy, standing over him as the life drained from his body.
The kid couldn't have been that bad, he friggin called the cops on himself while he was trippin on shrooms. I'm more apt to laugh at the idea of him jumping into a police officers arms than be scared of him.
Fragile, scared old lady defense my ass she knew what she was up to. If she was so scared well, a taser and a can of pepper spray will knock the wind out of anyone's sails.

[Whisper]

[...]
According to testimony at Layne’s arraignment, Hoffman called 911 on Friday evening and told a dispatcher his grandmother shot him. Police said the woman continued shooting him as he pleaded with the dispatcher for help.When officers arrived at the family’s condo in West Bloomfield Township, Layne was standing inside a door with the gun. She put it on the floor after officers ordered her to and exclaimed “she had just murdered her grandson,” a detective told the judge.
[...]

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/05/...-laid-to-rest/

diff between self defense and murder / execution

[Whisper]

If you can stomach it you can listen to the 911 tape of her still shooting him as he was on the phone
I cried I cant imagine what was going on there

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -
A 911 call echoing the cries from a 17-year-old to a 911 dispatcher saying he had been shot in the chest by his grandma was played Monday during a court hearing.

[...]
A detective has testified that Hoffman called 911 to report that his 74-year-old grandmother had shot him "in the chest and he was going to die."

Three minutes after the initial call, Hoffman told dispatchers he was shot again.

West Bloomfield Township Officer Derrick Kassab testified that Layne surrendered to officers and screamed, "I murdered my grandson."
Kassab said Layne was hysterical and kept asking officers how her grandson was doing.

A medical examiner testified that Hoffman died from five gunshot wounds - three to his chest, one to his arm and one to his stomach.

After hearing from 5 witnesses, looking at more than a dozen crime scene and listening to the 911 call - 48th District Court Judge Kimberly Small bound Layne over to stand trial on open murder and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/W...r/-/index.html

Uncut: 911 call from West Bloomfield grandson's shooting death
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/U...u/-/index.html

[JGo555]

Wonder what granpaw's take on all this is. Will he tard-defend?

Pretty sure he's glad he doesn't have to wake up next to THAT for the rest of his life...