Son of TV Actress Wakes up to Find Her Shot to Death

The family of a woman killed in an apparent accidental shooting have paid tribute to her as they seek donations for a memorial fund.

Carlether Foley, a 36-year old actress whose credits include the television show Big Joe and the Fam, died after being found unresponsive by her 17-year-old son Keyandre Benjamin in the bedroom of her apartment in Duluth, Georgia on September 25.

Both Foley and Benjamin had been sleeping when the gun was fired. Benjamin later went to check on his mother around 11 p.m. and found her unresponsive.

Foley's neighbor, 22-year-old Maxwell Williamson, told officers that he was cleaning his gun, not realizing there was a bullet in the chamber, when it accidentally fired through the wall. Gwinnett County police said the bullet struck Foley as she slept.

Williamson is alleged to have gone round to knock on Foley's door after the shooting. When no one answered, he left a note offering to pay for the damage and then went to work without realizing he had shot her, reported WSB-TV.

Williamson has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct and is currently being held at the Gwinnett County Jail without bond, Gwinnett County police told Newsweek.

A GoFundMe was set up by Foley's cousin, Ebony Curry, in order to help pay the costs for a memorial, as well as provide for the 36-year-old's family.

"Carlether was an extraordinary mother, daughter, sister, cousin and friend to so many and touched the lives of everyone around her," the GoFundMe page reads. "Carlether dedicated her life to making those around her smile and feel loved."

The page has managed to raise more than $21,000 in donations in seven days.

"Carlether was such a positive, caring, and talented woman who loved being a mother. She was motivated to set new goals and so excited about accomplishing each of them," the family wrote in an update on the page while thanking those who have already donated.

"I can't adequately put into words how much we are missing her."

Speaking to KTRK, Benjamin said he doesn't "feel real" without his mother, who he described as his hero.

"I just don't get it. I don't understand. She don't bother nobody. My mama didn't do nothing," he added.

The 17-year-old is currently staying with his grandmother, Jacquline Foley, in southeast Texas.

"I've never experienced the hurt, the pain that I'm feeling. I don't know what to do," Foley added to KTRK. "You had no right to take my baby from me. You had no business taking her life away from her child."

Curry condemned Williamson after his actions allegedly resulted in the 36-year-old's death.

"It's very difficult speaking of her and past tense, because it's so recent," Curry told WFAA. "I would never in a million years think that we would be burying her.

"If you're not responsible enough or not trained in having a weapon, just don't do it because a life is lost."

Williamson's attorney, Jeff Sliz, said his client did not mean to harm anyone when he was cleaning his gun and reiterated he was unaware he had shot Foley.

"My client is just decimated by it but we obviously know we're not as hurt and grieving as the family of the woman," Sliz told WFAA. "Our condolences and thoughts and prayers are with them."