Tyler Perry Helps Family Of GA Woman Killed In Bank Shooting

ALPHARETTA, GA — The children of a single mother who was killed in a shooting March 16 were left wondering if they would be able to pay rent after their mom died. But actor and Atlanta area resident Tyler Perry has taken care of that for the family, according to media reports.

The four children of Tynesha Evans said their mother was at the Wells Fargo Bank off North Main Street March 16 to get money for bills that will now have to be spent to pay for her funeral.

Evans, 45 of Alpharetta, was killed in a shooting at the Wells Fargo Bank on North Main Street in Alpharetta, according to the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.

Othnel Inniss, 58 of Alpharetta, was taken to Alpharetta Police headquarters and questioned by detectives. He has been charged with murder and aggravated assault with a firearm, authorities said.

Her children were worried they would be evicted if they were unable to pay their $3,200 rent. That's where Perry stepped in.

"It was a call I wasn't even going to answer. I said, 'Well, let me answer it to see who it is.' I answered and the person on the other end said, 'This is Tyler.' I said, 'Who?' He said, 'This is Tyler.' I said, 'Tyler who?' and he said, 'Tyler Perry.' At that point, I just broke down crying," Evans' daughter Audrey Turner told WSB-TV.

Perry's publicist confirmed the call and his act of kindness to CNN.

Perry did not just cover rent, CNN said, but he also paid for their mother's funeral in Atlanta, as well flying her body back to her home state of Wisconsin for a second funeral. Then he offered to cover tuition for Evans' daughter, Sharadiant Turner, who is a freshman at Spelman College in Atlanta.

"I'm going to do what she wanted me to do. She started me on math and now I'm going to get to graduate with a mathematics degree from Spelman College without debt. It means everything," Sharadiant Turner said.

The siblings told WSB-TV that Perry's kindness is something they will never forget.

"This is amazing. We can't thank him enough," Turner told the station.

Additionally, a GoFundMe has been set up by Evans' children.

"Tynesha Evans was a single mother of four children, two of them minors,"they wrote. "She was an author, mother, visionary, and she worked for Ciox Health. Her life was stolen from her children around 11:40 am on March 16th by a heartless person. She was getting money out of the ATM to pay bills but now it has to go toward her funeral. My mom was the breadwinner of our home, please see it in your heart to keep us in our home and put my mother to rest decently and not be homeless in a few weeks. We have to raise our two teenage sisters, please see it in your heart to assist. God Bless."

Police said they received a 911 call around 11:40 a.m. about a possible shooting at the bank at 21 North Main Street, WSB-TV reported. When they arrived, Evans was shot in the parking lot. She later died at North Fulton Regional Hospital.

Evans' children told WSB-TV their mother recently fell on hard times, Inniss reportedly said he would help. Evans was with one of her daughters when she dropped her off at a store and left to go to the bank, the daughter told WSB-TV.

An armed witness was driving by the bank when he heard the shot, got out to help, confronted the suspect, ordered the suspect to drop his weapon, and waited until officers arrived. A semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the scene.

The victim and the suspect were in an on-again, off-again relationship that ended in violence during an argument, authorities said. Alpharetta Police said their thoughts are with the victim's family and friends during this extremely difficult time.

Officers said they appreciate their partnership with the community. Alpharetta Police thanked the public for respecting the crime scene, being patient while waiting on the details, and all the messages of support for the department.

The department also said to keep in mind that if you intervene in a similar situation, once uniformed officers arrive, put your weapon down and comply with them until they have things under control. They no issues with that during this incident, but they said it was a good time for a reminder.

The Alpharetta Wells Fargo branch is closed on Saturdays, according to its website.

Patch Editor Feroze Dhanoa contributed to this article.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.