WINDSOR – Less than 24 hours after Mother’s Day, a Bertie County mom was shot in the back and her son stands charged in the crime.

David Russell Thomas Jr., 17, was scheduled to make his first court appearance yesterday (Wednesday) on the charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Prior to his court proceeding, an added charge of attempted first degree murder was lodged against Thomas. On that charge, a cash bond was set at $100,000. Combined, Thomas is being held in Bertie/Martin Regional Jail under a $150,000 cash bond.

Meanwhile, Thomas’ mother, 47-year-old Helen Pierce, is in critical condition at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville. She was airlifted there immediately following the 6:30 p.m. Monday shooting.

According to Detective Sgt. Ed Pittman of the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office, it appears the mother and son were engaged in an argument just prior to the shooting. The two were alone in their residence at 118 Thomasville Lane, located off School Road.

“After the argument, Mrs. Pierce was walking down a hallway and away from her son,” Pittman said. “At that time the son picked-up a .410 gauge shotgun and shot his mother one time in the upper portion of her back.”

Pittman confirmed that Thomas was a junior at Bethel Assembly Christian Academy in Askewville. He added that after checking with school officials there he learned that Thomas was a student in good standing.