In the early morning hours of October 9, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas, a 911 call was made that would forever alter the course of a family's life. On the other end of the line was Tesha La Sha Florence, who informed the dispatcher that she had shot her 16-year-old son, Robert Florence, a Black male. When police arrived at the Claremont Apartment Homes on East Harry, they found the young man with a single gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition.
For two days, Robert fought for his life, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries on the morning of October 11, 2024.
Robert was a junior at Wichita Northwest High School, where he was remembered by teachers and coaches as a gifted artist and a jokester who had a playful spirit and enjoyed making others laugh. He was known for his kindness, humor, and generous spirit. Friends and family recalled a young man who was a cherished son, sibling, and friend, and someone you could trust to be genuine. His older brother described the family as having faced financial struggles for years. On the day of the shooting, Robert had stayed home from school because he didn't have any clean clothes to wear.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, Robert's 46-year-old mother, Tesha, was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. Initially facing charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery, the charges were amended to second-degree murder following Robert's death. Investigators learned of a prior incident in March 2024 where Tesha had allegedly threatened her ex-husband and his girlfriend with a gun, though it had not been reported to the police at the time. While prosecutors alleged the shooting was unlawful and intentional, Robert's older brother expressed his belief that it was an accident.
Court documents later revealed that on the morning of the incident, Robert was "pushing her buttons" by pulling down curtains and tearing up paper. When he reached for her purse containing a handgun, his mother took it and asked, "Do you just want to die?" before the gun went off, striking him in the head. Tesha Florence later pleaded no contest to second-degree unintentional but reckless murder and was sentenced to 194 months in prison. During her sentencing, she apologized and asked for forgiveness.
