by Illinois – An Illinois man accused of fatally shooting a pregnant woman and injuring her 4-year-old daughter in 2023 has avoided a murder conviction after accepting a plea deal that drastically reduced his charges.
21-year-old Mattavius Anderson, of Macon County, was originally facing nine counts — including first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm — for the tragic shooting that killed 20-year-old Ja’Niah Thomas and her unborn child. Instead, under the plea deal, all of those charges were dismissed, and Anderson was convicted of a single count of residential burglary, according to WCIA.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with credit for time already served. Anderson’s brother, Mattarion Anderson, who was also charged in the same incident, was convicted of murder in May and sentenced to 40 years behind bars.
The Tragic Shooting
The deadly shooting occurred at a home in the 1300 block of North Woodford Street in Decatur, Illinois. Prosecutors said the violence stemmed from a Snapchat dispute involving someone inside the house.
Thomas was reportedly sitting peacefully on a couch when bullets tore through the residence. According to a GoFundMe set up by her family,
“She was an innocent bystander, sitting peacefully on the couch when she was struck by stray bullets.”
At the time, Thomas was 26 weeks pregnant. She was visiting her boyfriend’s home with her two children, ages 4 and 2, when the Anderson brothers and another man — Tarlan Mackey — allegedly opened fire on the house.
Thomas tried to protect her 4-year-old daughter by picking her up and dropping to the floor, but both were hit by bullets. The child was shot in the face, losing her right eye, while Thomas was fatally wounded. Her 2-year-old son miraculously escaped unharmed.
Thomas’ unborn daughter, Ja’Nylah Brielle Thomas, also died in the attack.
Aftermath and Prosecution
Following the shooting, one of Thomas’ boyfriend’s relatives reportedly received a text message from a family member of the suspects apologizing for what happened.
Court records show that while Mattavius Anderson took the plea deal, his brother Mattarion opted for a bench trial and was convicted of murder earlier this year. The third suspect, Tarlan Mackey, pleaded guilty to residential burglary and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Remembering the Victim
Thomas’ obituary described her as a devoted mother, forklift operator, and Decatur native who “loved to sing, laugh, dance, and spend time with her children and family.”
“[Ja’Niah] didn’t take pride in anything more than being a mother,” her cousin told.
Her death — and the plea deal that spared her alleged killer from a murder conviction — has left the community outraged and heartbroken.
What are your thoughts on this plea deal? Should prosecutors have pushed for a harsher sentence? Share your views in the comments at mikeandjonpodcast.com.
