Tragic Incident: Mother Fatally Struck by Accidental Gunfire into Home

Jennifer James, a mother from Colorado who successfully overcame cancer four times, tragically lost her life to a stray bullet at her residence late last month. Court documents recently made public reveal that her alleged killer, a 20-year-old named Ebenezer Worku, admitted to the police, saying, “I did it … put me in jail,” while insisting the shooting was accidental, as reported by authorities.

Ebenezer Worku expressed remorse to the police, describing his regret over “accidentally” shooting Jennifer James while she was inside her Berthoud home on the 500 block of 1st Street. His statements were documented in an arrest affidavit acquired by the local Fox affiliate KDVR.

A Larimer County Sheriff’s Office press release identifies Worku as the suspected shooter, with his affidavit detailing what he allegedly told police after being taken into custody.

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Worku said he suffers from “homicidal schizophrenia” and hears voices inside his head that tell him to cause harm to others, KDVR reported, citing the affidavit.

He allegedly admitted to being off prescriptions for two years and said he owned a Glock 22 handgun and that was given to him as a birthday gift from his “adopted uncle,” identified as the driver of the vehicle Worku was driving on the night he shot James while sitting outside her home, according to police.

Worku allegedly claimed he was driving south on 1st Street and trying to clean his gun when it “accidentally” fired out of the driver’s side window toward James’ house. He allegedly told cops that he fired a second time after he attempted to clear the chamber, KDVR reports.