LIVINGSTON, Texas – A woman accused of shooting and killing a Livingston High School student over the weekend is now out on bond, according to her mother.
Polk County sheriff's deputies Rachel Nicole Leggett has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury after a teenage boy was shot on Leggett's property.
"I'm sorry for everybody," said Peggy Robison, Leggett's mother. "But I'm sorry mostly for the boy and my daughter because it has ruined her life also."
Authorities would only confirm that a 16-year-old boy died Saturday after being shot in the head at a home on Easy Street Friday evening. However, friends of the boy said his name was Rhett Lathan, a student at Livingston High School. They also say that he was shot while driving a truck with another friend.
Robison told Local 2 that her daughter deeply regrets what happened and said Leggett had no idea who was inside the truck that was on her property. She added that her daughter feared for her life and only pulled the trigger when the truck continued toward her home in an aggressive manner.
"They came in the middle of her yard," Robison said. "Headed straight toward her and she didn't know who it was, what it was. She didn't know who was behind the wheel because it was dark. They had no lighting out here. We don't know why they came on the property the way they did. She didn't mean to kill anybody. She meant to stop the truck, and that was all."
Polk County Sheriff Kenneth Hammack would only say via news release that the investigation is still ongoing and upon completion of the investigation, the matter will be referred to a Polk County Grand Jury for consideration of any additional charges.
Visitation for Rhett Lathan will be Tuesday from 5 to p.m. at First Baptist Church in Livingston.