‘Is My Mom Okay?’: 5-Year-Old Watches ‘A Minecraft Movie’ as Mother Is Shot in the Head by His Father in the Garage

A man from Seattle, Washington, fled to California and shot his pregnant ex-girlfriend in the head. He also shot her current boyfriend in the face while a 5-year-old was present in the residence, according to court documents.

A 36-year-old man, Vaughn Boatner, from Seattle, traveled to California and shot his ex-girlfriend in the face.

Boatner was initially charged with voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder, and child abuse and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Boatner agreed to a plea deal earlier in March with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. As part of the deal, he pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and attempted murder.

As a result of the agreement, both charges of murder and child abuse were dropped.

In May 2023, Boatner was in Seattle, Washington, and fled following the shooting incident, according to a press release by authorities.

The victim has been identified as Monique Aldridge, who had a 5-year-old son. The child was present when the incident took place. Boatner killed Aldridge and shot her boyfriend in the face at their home at Hayward, California on May 11, 2023. This happened days after Aldridge found out that she was pregnant with her current boyfriend's child.

On May 11, 2023, Aldridge’s 5-year-old son was at their California home watching A Minecraft Movie when he heard Boatner fire a gunshot. He immediately asked, “Is my mom okay?” after speaking to the victim’s current boyfriend, who was also at the residence at the time. According to court documents, the boyfriend told the 5-year-old, “I need you to come in here with me,” as he testified in court.

Aldridge was shot in the head, and the victim’s boyfriend was also shot in the face and mouth, causing him to lose several teeth and parts of his jaw. Aldridge’s son was present inside the residence and was found unharmed by responding officers after the shooting, according to the police press release.

“During the investigation, it was learned that the 5-year-old boy at the scene was Aldridge and Boatner’s child,” according to the release.

“It is to be believed that Aldridge and the other victim were in a dating relationship and lived together during the incident.”

According to the testimony given by Aldridge’s boyfriend during the preliminary hearing, Boatner sneaked into their home and attacked the victim in the garage while their son was watching A Minecraft Movie in the adjacent room, according to the East Bay Times.

Earlier, Aldridge and her boyfriend had an argument on May 8 after he failed to hold the door open for her at a restaurant.

The argument happened just a few days after she learned that she was pregnant. Aldridge told him she needed some time apart. Boatner, after learning about the argument, confronted Aldridge at a park where they met.

Prosecutors said Boatner was concerned about the safety of his son and argued with Aldridge at the park.